Seating detection switch

ABSTRACT

A thin, film-form seating switch able to detect whether an occupant sits on the seat or not, wherein, with a spacer ( 5 ) in-between, a film-form substrate ( 3 ) is disposed on one surface of the spacer and a film-form member ( 7 ) on the other surface, a first conductor ( 13 ) equipped with a first terminal ( 9 ) and a first electrode ( 11 A) conductive with this and a second conductor ( 19 ) equipped with a second terminal ( 15 ) and a second electrode ( 17 A) conductive with this are fixed to one surface of the film-form substrate, and a third conductor ( 21 A) for letting the first electrode conduct with the second electrode when an occupant is seated is fixed to the film-form member ( 7 ). The above arrangement solves a conventional problem that it is troublesome to connect the connection terminals of wires or the like provided on a wiring harness or the like to respective terminals that are separately provided on a film-form substrate and a film-form member.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a seating detection switch fordetecting whether or not a person has sat down in a seat, and morespecifically, the present invention relates to a film-form seatingdetection switch providing a three layer construction of a film-formsubstrate, a film-form spacer and a film-form member superposed in thisorder.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventional film-form seating detection switches are known which arecapable of detecting when a person has sat down in a seat, disclosed infor example Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 9-315199 andJapanese Patent Publication No. 2909961. Such conventional seatingdetection switches comprise one electrode fixed to one surface of onefilm of a pair of films, electrically connected via one wire, anotherelectrode fixed to the surface of the other film of the pair of filmsopposing the surface of the first film, electrically connected via onewire, and a spacer arranged between both those films such that these twoelectrodes are normally separated and in mutual opposition. In thisarrangement, if a person sits down in a seat on which such a seatingdetection switch is disposed, the opposing electrodes come into contactthereby becoming conductive, in response to the weight of the sittingperson.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the structure of a conventional seatingdetection switch 300. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the seatingdetection switch 300 of FIG. 1 along the line II-II.

As shown in FIG. 2 this conventional seating detection switch 300comprises an insulating, film-form spacer 304 interposed between afilm-form substrate 302 arranged on one of the surfaces of the spacer304 and a film-form member 306 arranged on the other surface of thespacer 304.

This conventional seating detection switch 300 is used arranged at therear side of the surface covering of a seat in which a person can sitdown. This switch 300 is thus used as a seating detection device thatoperates in response to the body weight of a passenger that sits down inthe seat to detect whether or not the passenger is seated in the seat.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the structure of the film-form substrate302 forming the conventional seating detection switch 300. As shown inFIG. 2 and FIG. 3, on the surface of the film-form substrate 302 facingthe film-form member 306 (the inner side surface), a plurality ofcontact points 308A-308D are each disposed mutually separated, in orderto detect the seating of a passenger in the seat.

As shown in FIG. 3, these contact points 308A-308D are electricallyconnected to each other via a conductive wire (conduction route) 310that is wired on the inner side surface. A first terminal 312 isdisposed at one end of the wire 310, acting to connect this conventionalseating detection switch 300 to another electronic device (for takingsignals from the seating detection switch).

The wire 310 is disposed separating into a plurality of branches in thedirection moving away from the terminal 312. Each of the contacts308A-308D are disposed over the wiring, extending along the wiringbranches (refer to FIG. 3).

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the structure of the spacer 304 formingthe conventional seating detection switch 300. This spacer 304 is of thesame form as the film-form substrate 302 and provides a plurality ofopenings 320A-320D. Each of these openings 320A-320D is disposed in aposition that corresponds to the respective positions at which thecontacts 308A-308D are disposed.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the structure of the film-form member 306comprising a conventional seating detection switch 300. This film-formmember 306 is of the same form as the film-form substrate 302. Aplurality of contacts 314A-314D that correspond to each of the contacts308A-308D and each of the openings 320A-320D are disposed on the surfaceof the film-form member 306 facing the film-form substrate 302 (theinner side surface). Further, on that inner side surface in the samemanner as the film-form substrate 302, are disposed a conductive wire(conduction route) 316 and a second terminal 318 for taking signals fromthe seating detection switch (refer to FIGS. 2 and 5).

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of the conventional seating detection switch300. The contacts 314A-314D and the corresponding contacts 308A-308D arenormally spaced apart by the spacer 304. When a passenger sits down inthe seat, the film-form substrate 302 and film-form member 306 bend, thecontacts 314A-340D and the corresponding contacts 308A-308D (for examplecontact 308A to contact 314A) contact each other, and the first terminal312 and second terminal 318 enter a condition of mutual electricalconduction (in other words, they are connected), thereby enabling theseating of the passenger to be detected.

In the conventional seating detection switch the surface on which one ofthe electrodes is formed is taken as the front surface and the surfaceon which the other electrode is formed is the rear surface. One of theterminals connected by an electrical wire to one of the electrodes isdisposed on the front surface of this conventional seating detectionswitch, while the other terminal connected by an electrical wire to theother electrode is disposed on the rear surface of this conventionalseating detection switch.

In this way, as one of the terminals is disposed on the opposite surfaceto the other terminal, after a connection terminal of an electrical wireprovided by a wiring harness or the like is connected to one of theterminals, it becomes necessary, in the case of this conventionalseating detection switch, that the switch be turned over to enable aconnection to be made to the other terminal. Thus, a problem arises inthat it is troublesome to connect a connection terminal of an electricalwire (signal wire) provided by a wiring harness to each of theterminals.

Further, when a conventional seating detection switch is installed forexample on a seat and a person sits down in the seat, a part of theconventional switch (e.g. the part in the vicinity of the seat back ofthe seat) is substantially curved.

As the conventional seating detection switch has a triple layerconstruction consisting of a film pairing with a spacer disposedtherebetween, significant stress arises inside the seating detectionswitch in the parts subject to such curving and this may cause theswitch to sustain damage.

Moreover, the conventional seating detection switch 300 is configuredsuch that in any single contact pairing comprised of the contacts308A-308D with the corresponding contacts 314A-314D (e.g. the contactpairing formed by contact 308A and 314A), if the opposing contacts ofthe pair come into contact with each other the first terminal 312 andsecond terminal 318 enter a condition of electrical conduction.

Accordingly, a problem arises due to concern about the switchincorrectly detecting that a person has sat down in the seat if forexample the edge of some luggage is positioned over a single contactpairing causing the contacts of that contact pairing to come intocontact with each other, even though a person has not actually sat downin the seat.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

With the foregoing in view, in order to solve the above describedproblems it is an object of the present invention to provide a thinfilm-form seating detection switch capable of detecting whether or not apassenger is seated in a seat, wherein the connection terminals ofelectrical wires or the like provided by a wiring harness for example issimply connected to the respective terminals of this seating detectionswitch.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a thinfilm-form seating detection switch capable of detecting whether or not apassenger is seated in a seat, wherein even if the seat is substantiallybent to curve, the substantially curved part does not easily sustaindamage.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide afilm-form seating detection switch for detecting whether or not a personis seated in a seat, in which erroneous detections of the seating of aperson are substantially prevented.

In order to achieve the above objects, according to one aspect of thepresent invention, a thin film-form seating detection switch capable ofdetecting whether or not a passenger is seated in a seat is provided,which comprising: a film-form substrate made of insulating material; afirst conductor fixed to one of the surfaces of the film-form substrate,including a first terminal at one end and a first electrode at the otherend; a second conductor fixed to said one of the surfaces of thefilm-form substrate including a second terminal at one end and a secondelectrode at the other end, said second conductor being insulated fromsaid first conductor; a film-form member disposed on said one of thesurfaces of the film-form substrate, said film-form member beingslightly removed from the film-form substrate via a spacer andsubstantially parallel to the film-form substrate; and a third conductorfixed to the surface of the film-form member facing the film-formsubstrate, wherein when a passenger sits down in a seat on which theseating detection switch is provided, at least one of a part of thefilm-form substrate and a part of the film-form member bends due to theweight of the passenger, and the first electrode and the secondelectrode enter a condition of mutual conductivity via the thirdconductor.

According to another aspect of the invention, the seating detectionswitch is provided, wherein the first terminal and the second terminalare disposed in mutual proximity and the film-form substrate is formedin continuity between said terminals.

According to another aspect of the invention, the seating detectionswitch is provided, wherein a part of seating detection switch thatcurves substantially when a passenger sits down in the seat isreinforced.

According to another aspect of the invention, the seating detectionswitch is provided, wherein the part that curves substantially isreinforced by removing the spacer and the film-form member from the partthat curves substantially and providing an insulating, thin resistancelayer on the surface of the film-form substrate on which the first andsecond conductors are disposed so as to cover the first conductor andthe second conductor.

According to another aspect of the invention, the seating detectionswitch is provided, wherein the resistance layer enters in slightlybetween the spacer and the film-form substrate.

According to another aspect of the invention, the seating detectionswitch is provided, wherein the surface of the resistance layer iscovered with a flexible, thin, film-form protective tape.

According to another aspect of the invention, the seating detectionswitch is provided, wherein a plurality of first electrodes are formedtoward said other end of the first conductor, a plurality of secondelectrodes corresponding to the plurality of first electrodes are formedtoward said other end of the second conductor, and a plurality of thirdconductors are formed on the film-form member corresponding to the firstelectrodes and the second electrodes thereby forming an OR circuit.

According to another aspect of the invention, the seating detectionswitch is provided, wherein a plurality of first electrodes are formedtoward said other end of the first conductor, a plurality of secondelectrodes corresponding to the plurality of first electrodes are formedtoward said other end of the second conductor, and a plurality of thirdconductors are formed on the film-form member corresponding to the firstelectrodes and the second electrodes thereby forming an AND circuit.

According to another aspect of the invention, a thin, film-form seatingdetection switch that is arranged at the rear side of the cover of aseat is provided, which internally providing a plurality of contactseach of which is conductive with the respective corresponding terminalof a plurality of terminals, that can detect whether or not a passengeris seated in the seat by detecting whether or not the contacts aremutually conducting, wherein the terminals are disposed on one of thesurfaces of the film-form seating detection switch.

According to another aspect of the invention, a thin, film-form seatingdetection switch capable of detecting whether or not a passenger isseated in a seat is provided, which comprising: a film-form substratemade of insulating material; a first conductor fixed to one of thesurfaces of the substrate, including a first terminal at one end and afirst electrode at the other end; a film-form member made of insulatingmaterial, disposed on said one of the surfaces of the substrate, andslightly removed from the substrate via a spacer and substantiallyparallel to the substrate; a third conductor fixed to the surface of themember facing the substrate, including a fourth electrode at one end anda third electrode at the other end; and a second conductor fixed to saidone of the surfaces of the substrate, including a second terminal at oneend and a second electrode at the other end that is conductive with thethird electrode of the third conductor, said second conductor beinginsulated from the first conductor and being conductive with the secondelectrode, wherein when a passenger sits down in a seat on which theseating detection switch is provided, at least one of a part of thesubstrate and a part of the member bends due to the weight of thepassenger, and the first electrode and the fourth electrode enter acondition of mutual conductivity.

According to another aspect of the invention, a seating detection switchis provided, which comprising a film-form substrate, a planar spacer, afilm-form member, and a first terminal and a second terminal, in whichthe film-form substrate and the film-form member are disposed paralleland mutually spaced apart, the spacer is interposed therebetween, suchthat when a passenger sits down in a seat on which the seating detectionswitch is provided, at least one of a part of the film-form substrateand a part of the film-form member bends due to the weight of thepassenger, and the first terminal and the second terminal enter acondition of mutual conductivity, wherein instead of the spacer,double-sided tape that is thinner than the spacer is provided at thepart that curves substantially due to the action of a passenger sittingdown.

According to another aspect of the invention, the seating detectionswitch is provided, which comprising: a first conductor fixed to one ofthe surfaces of the film-form substrate of insulating material,including a first terminal at one end and a first electrode at the otherend; and a second conductor fixed to one of the surfaces of thefilm-form member of insulating material, including a second terminal atone end and a second electrode at the other end, wherein when apassenger sits down in a seat on which the seating detection switch isprovided the first electrode and the second electrode come into mutualcontact and the first terminal and the second terminal enter a conditionof mutual conductivity.

According to another aspect of the invention, the seating detectionswitch is provided, which comprising: a first conductor fixed to one ofthe surfaces of the film-form substrate of insulating material,including a first terminal at one end and a first electrode at the otherend; a second conductor fixed to said one of the surfaces of thefilm-form substrate, including a second terminal at one end and a secondelectrode at the other end, said second conductor being insulated fromthe first conductor; and a third conductor fixed to said one of thesurfaces of the film-form substrate, wherein the first terminal and thesecond terminal are disposed in mutual proximity, and the film-formsubstrate is formed in continuity, disposed between these two terminals,when a passenger sits down in a seat on which the seating detectionswitch is provided the first electrode and the second electrode comeinto mutual contact via the third conductor, and the first terminal andthe second terminal enter a condition of mutual conductivity.

According to another aspect of the invention, the seating detectionswitch is provided, wherein the double sided tape is formed of aflexible nonwoven fabric, impregnated with an adhesive agent, or isformed simply of an adhesive agent.

According to another aspect of the invention, film-form seatingdetection switch constructed having a film-form spacer interposed, afilm-form substrate arranged on one surface of the spacer, and afilm-form member arranged on the other surface of the spacer isprovided, which comprising: a first terminal provided in the seatingdetection switch; a second terminal provided in the seating detectionswitch spaced apart from the first terminal; a first contact arrangementincluding an appropriate number of contacts that are electricallyconductive with the first terminal disposed on the surface of thefilm-form substrate facing the film-form member; a second contactarrangement including an appropriate number of contacts that areelectrically conductive with the second terminal disposed on thefilm-form substrate surface facing the film-form member substantiallyapart from the first contact arrangement; a third contact arrangementincluding an appropriate number of contacts arranged opposing therespective contacts of the first contact arrangement, disposed on thefilm-form member surface facing the film-form substrate, so as to becapable of coming into contact with the respective contacts; and afourth contact arrangement including an appropriate number of contactsarranged opposing the respective contacts of the second contactarrangement, disposed on the film-form member surface facing thefilm-form substrate, so as to be capable of coming into contact with therespective contacts, wherein the appropriate contacts of the thirdcontact arrangement and the appropriate contacts of the fourth contactarrangement become directly, mutually conductive or become mutuallyconductive via another contact arrangement provided on the film-formsubstrate and/or the film-form member.

According to another aspect of the invention, the seating detectionswitch is provided, wherein all of the contacts of the third contactarrangement and the fourth contact arrangement are mutually,electrically conductive.

According to another aspect of the invention, the seating detectionswitch is provided, wherein some of the contacts of the third contactarrangement and some of the contacts of the fourth contact arrangementare mutually, electrically conductive, while the remainder of thecontacts of the third contact arrangement and the remainder of thecontacts of the fourth contact arrangement are mutually, electricallyconductive.

According to another aspect of the invention, the seating detectionswitch is provided, comprising: a fifth contact arrangement including anappropriate number of contacts disposed on the film-form substratesurface facing the film-form member, substantially apart from the firstcontact arrangement and the second contact arrangement; a sixth contactarrangement including an appropriate number of contacts disposed on thefilm-form substrate surface facing the film-form member, substantiallyapart from the first contact arrangement, the second contact arrangementand the fifth contact arrangement; a seventh contact arrangementincluding an appropriate number of contacts disposed on the film-formmember surface facing the film-form substrate, opposing the respectivecontacts of the fifth contact arrangement, so as to be capable of cominginto contact with the respective contacts; and an eighth contactarrangement including an appropriate number of contacts disposed on thefilm-form member surface facing the film-form substrate, opposing therespective contacts of the sixth contact arrangement, so as to becapable of coming into contact with the respective contacts, wherein allof the contacts of the fifth contact arrangement and the sixth contactarrangement are mutually, electrically conductive, all of the contactsof the third contact arrangement and the seventh contact arrangement aremutually, electrically conductive, and all of the contacts of the fourthcontact arrangement and the eighth contact arrangement are mutually,electrically conductive.

According to another aspect of the invention, the seating detectionswitch is provided, comprising: a fifth contact arrangement including anappropriate number of contacts disposed on the film-form member surfacefacing the film-form substrate substantially apart from the thirdcontact arrangement and the fourth contact arrangement; a sixth contactarrangement including an appropriate number of contacts disposed on thefilm-form member surface facing the film-form substrate corresponding tobut just apart from the respective contacts of the fifth contactarrangement; and a seventh contact arrangement having an appropriatenumber of contacts disposed on the film-form substrate surface facingthe film-form member opposing respectively, each of an appropriatenumber of contact pairs comprised of each of the contacts of the fifthcontact arrangement and each of the contacts of the sixth contactarrangement, so as to be capable of coming into contact with each ofthose contact pairs, wherein all of the contacts of the third contactarrangement and the fifth contact arrangement are mutually, electricallyconductive and all of the contacts of the fourth contact arrangement andthe sixth contact arrangement are mutually, electrically conductive.

According to another aspect of the invention, film-form seatingdetection switch having a film-form spacer interposed, a film-formsubstrate arranged on one surface of the spacer and a film-form memberarranged on the other surface of the spacer is provided, whichcomprising: a first terminal provided in the seating detection switch; asecond terminal provided in the seating detection switch spaced apartfrom the first terminal; a first contact arrangement including anappropriate number of contacts that electrically connect to the firstterminal, disposed on the film-form substrate surface facing thefilm-form member; a second contact arrangement including an appropriatenumber of contacts that electrically connect to the second terminal,disposed on the film-form substrate surface facing the film-form member,substantially apart from the first contact arrangement; a third contactarrangement including an appropriate number of contacts disposed on thefilm-form substrate surface facing the film-form member, correspondingto but just apart from the respective contacts of the first contactarrangement; a fourth contact arrangement including an appropriatenumber of contacts disposed on the film-form substrate surface facingthe film-form member, corresponding to but just apart from therespective contacts of the second contact arrangement; a fifth contactarrangement including an appropriate number of contacts disposed on thefilm-form member surface facing the film-form substrate, opposingrespectively, an appropriate number of contact pairs comprised of eachof the contacts of the first contact arrangement and each of thecontacts of the third contact arrangement, so as to be capable of cominginto contact with the respective contact pairs; and a sixth contactarrangement including an appropriate number of contacts disposed on thefilm-form member surface facing the film-form substrate opposingrespectively, an appropriate number of contact pairs comprised of eachof the contacts of the second contact arrangement and each of thecontacts of the fourth contact arrangement, so as to be capable ofcoming into contact with the respective contact pairs, wherein theappropriate contacts of the fifth contact arrangement and theappropriate contacts of the sixth contact arrangement are directly,electrically conductive or are mutually, electrically conductive viaanother contact arrangement provided on the film-form substrate and/orthe film-form member.

According to another aspect of the invention, the seating detectionswitch is provided, wherein all of the contacts of the third contactarrangement and the fourth contact arrangement are mutually,electrically conductive.

According to another aspect of the invention, the seating detectionswitch is provided, wherein some of the contacts of the third contactarrangement and some of the contacts of the fourth contact arrangementare mutually, electrically conductive, while the remainder of thecontacts comprising the third contact arrangement and the remainder ofthe contacts comprising the fourth contact arrangement are mutually,electrically conductive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a conventional seating detection switch;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view along the line II-II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the film-form substrate comprising theconventional seating detection switch;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the spacer comprising the conventionalseating detection switch;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the film-form member comprising theconventional seating detection switch;

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of the conventional seating detectionswitch;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a seating detection switch according to afirst embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view along the line VIII-VIII of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view along the line IX-IX of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a schematic view of the film-form substrate comprising theseating detection switch according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a schematic view of the spacer comprising the seatingdetection switch according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a schematic view of the film-form member comprising theseating detection switch according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a schematic view of a seating detection switch according to asecond embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 shows the seating detection switch of the second embodimentinstalled on a car seat;

FIG. 15 is an expanded perspective view of the part XV of FIG. 13;

FIG. 16 is a schematic view of a seating detection switch according to athird embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 17 shows the seating detection switch of the third embodimentinstalled on a car seat;

FIG. 18 is a schematic view of a seating detection switch according to afourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 19 is a schematic view of a seating detection switch according to afifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 20 is a schematic view of the film-form substrate comprising theseating detection switch according to the fifth embodiment;

FIG. 21 is a schematic view of the spacer comprising the seatingdetection switch according to the fifth embodiment;

FIG. 22 is a schematic view of the film-form member comprising theseating detection switch according to the fifth embodiment;

FIG. 23 is a schematic view of a seating detection switch according to asixth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view along the line XXIV-XXIV of FIG. 23;

FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view along the line XXV-XXV of FIG. 23;

FIG. 26 is a schematic view of the film-form substrate comprising theseating detection switch according to the sixth embodiment;

FIG. 27 is a schematic view of the spacer comprising the seatingdetection switch according to the sixth embodiment;

FIG. 28 is a schematic view of the film-form member comprising theseating detection switch according to the sixth embodiment;

FIG. 29 is a schematic view of a seating detection switch according to aseventh embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 30 shows the seating detection switch of the seventh embodimentinstalled on a car seat;

FIG. 31 is a schematic view of a seating detection switch according toan eighth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 32 shows the seating detection switch of the eighth embodimentinstalled on a car seat;

FIG. 33 is a schematic view of a seating detection switch according to atenth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 34 is a schematic view of the film-form substrate comprising theseating detection switch according to the tenth embodiment;

FIG. 35 is a schematic view of the film-form member comprising theseating detection switch according to the tenth embodiment;

FIG. 36 is a circuit diagram of the seating detection switch accordingto the tenth embodiment;

FIG. 37 is a schematic view of a seating detection switch according toan eleventh embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 38 is a schematic view of the film-form member comprising theseating detection switch according to the eleventh embodiment;

FIG. 39 is a circuit diagram of the seating detection switch accordingto the eleventh embodiment;

FIG. 40 is a schematic view of a seating detection switch according to atwelfth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 41 is a schematic view of the film-form substrate comprising theseating detection switch according to the twelfth embodiment;

FIG. 42 is a schematic view of the spacer comprising the seatingdetection switch according to the twelfth embodiment;

FIG. 43 is a schematic view of the film-form member comprising theseating detection switch according to the twelfth embodiment;

FIG. 44 is a circuit diagram of the seating detection switch accordingto the twelfth embodiment;

FIG. 45 is a schematic view of a seating detection switch according to athirteenth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 46 is a cross-sectional view along the line XLVI-XLVI of FIG. 45;

FIG. 47 is a schematic view of the film-form substrate comprising theseating detection switch according to the thirteenth embodiment;

FIG. 48 is a schematic view of the film-form member comprising theseating detection switch according to the thirteenth embodiment;

FIG. 49 is a circuit diagram of the seating detection switch accordingto the thirteenth embodiment;

FIG. 50 is a schematic view of a seating detection switch according to afourteenth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 51 is a schematic view of the film-form substrate comprising theseating detection switch according to the fourteenth embodiment;

FIG. 52 is a circuit diagram of the seating detection switch accordingto the fourteenth embodiment;

FIG. 53 is a schematic view of a seating detection switch according to afifteenth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 54 is a schematic view of the film-form substrate comprising theseating detection switch according to the fifteenth embodiment;

FIG. 55 is a schematic view of the spacer comprising the seatingdetection switch according to the fifteenth embodiment;

FIG. 56 is a schematic view of the film-form member comprising theseating detection switch according to the fifteenth embodiment; and

FIG. 57 is a circuit diagram of the seating detection switch accordingto the fifteenth embodiment.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described withreference to the accompanying drawings. In these drawings, likereference numerals identify like elements.

FIRST EMBODIMENT

FIG. 7 schematically depicts a seating detection switch according to afirst embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectionalview along the line VIII-VIII of FIG. 7. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectionalview along the line IX-IX of FIG. 7. In FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 the seatingdetection switch 1 is drawn expanded in the direction of the thicknessthereof (in FIG. 8 the vertical direction and in FIG. 9 a horizontaldirection).

The seating detection switch 1 is arranged for example on the rear sideof the covering of the seat of a car, and provides a thin, film-formseating detection switch capable of detecting whether or not a passengeris sitting in the seat.

The seating detection switch 1 comprises a film-form substrate 3 made ofinsulating material. A film-form member 7 made of insulating material isdisposed over one of the surfaces of the film-form substrate 3,substantially parallel to and just apart from the film-form substrate 3,via a spacer 5 made of insulating material.

FIG. 10 is a schematic view of the film-form substrate 3 of the seatingdetection switch 1. On the same surface over which the film-form member7 is disposed (the surface to the rear side in FIG. 10) a long thinconductor (first conductor) 13 is fixed, which is provided with aterminal (first terminal) 9 at one end, and electrodes (firstelectrodes) 11A, 11B, 11C and 11D toward the other end. On the samesurface of the film-form substrate 3, another long thin conductor(second conductor) 19 insulated from the conductor 13 is fixed, which isprovided with a terminal (second terminal) 15 at one end, and electrodes(second electrodes) 17A, 17B, 17C and 17D toward the other end.

FIG. 11 is a schematic view of the spacer 5 of the seating detectionswitch 1. The spacer 5 has an adhesive agent on both surfaces thereofand fixes the film-form substrate 3 and the film-form member 7 (referFIGS. 8 and 9).

FIG. 12 is a schematic view of the film-form member 7 of the seatingdetection switch 1. Thin conductors (third conductors) 21A, 21B, 21C and21D are fixed to the surface of the film-form member 7 facing thefilm-form substrate 3 (the rear surface in FIG. 12).

The seating detection switch 1 shown in FIG. 7 is constructed with thespacer 5 shown in FIG. 11 layered on without being reversed over (thefront surface of) the film-form substrate 3 shown in FIG. 10 and withthe film-form member 7 shown in FIG. 12 layered on without beingreversed over (the front surface of) the spacer 5.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 10, on the film-form substrate 3 theelectrode 11A and the electrode 17A are in mutual proximity, opposingeach other. Similarly, the electrode 11B and the electrode 17B, theelectrode 11C and the electrode 17C, as well as the electrode 11D andthe electrode 17D are each disposed in the same manner as the electrodes11A and 17A. Each of these electrodes has for example, a comb-shapedform.

As shown in FIG. 11 through holes 23A, 23B, 23C and 23D are formed inthe spacer 5. As shown in FIG. 7, the through hole 23A is in theposition corresponding to the electrode 11A and the electrode 17A whenthe spacer 5 is fixed by for example being adhered in a determinedposition over the film-form substrate 3. In the same manner, the throughhole 23B is in a position corresponding to the position of the electrode11B and the electrode 17B, the through hole 23C is in positioncorresponding to the position of the electrode 11C and the electrode17C, and the through hole 23D is in position corresponding to theposition of the electrode 11D and the electrode 17D.

The through hole 23A is formed somewhat larger than the location atwhich each of the electrodes 11A and 17A are disposed, therebysurrounding this location. Each of the other through holes 23B, 23C and23D is formed larger than the location at which each of their respectivecorresponding electrode pairs are disposed and surrounding thatcorresponding location in the same manner as the through hole 23A.

When the film-form member 7 is secured by for example being adhered in adetermined position on the spacer 5 affixed to the film-form substrate3, the conductor 21A is positioned so as to correspond to the positionof the electrode 11A, the electrode 17A and the through hole 23A. In thesame manner, the conductor 21B is positioned corresponding to theposition of the electrode 11B, the electrode 17B and the through hole23B; the conductor 21C is positioned corresponding to the position ofthe electrode 11C, the electrode 17C and the through hole 23C; and theconductor 21D is positioned corresponding to the position of theelectrode 11D, the electrode 17D and the through hole 23D.

The through hole 23A is formed larger then the conductor 21A andsurrounds the 21A. Each of the other through holes 23B, 23C and 23D arealso formed larger than the respective conductors 21B, 21C and 21D so asto surround these respective conductors in the same manner as thethrough hole 23A.

The conductor 21A is formed to a size sufficient to surround the outerdiameters (outlines) of the electrode 11A and the electrode 17A (theenvelope of the outer diameter of the electrode 11A and the outerdiameter of the electrode 17A). In the same manner, each of theconductors 21B, 21C and 21D is formed sufficiently large to surround theouter diameters of each of the respective corresponding electrodes.

In this seating detection switch 1 the terminal 9, formed for example ina rectangular form on one of the surfaces of the film-form substrate 3and the terminal 15, formed on the film-form substrate 3 in the samemanner as the terminal 9, are disposed in mutual proximity and parallelwith respect to each other. Between the terminal 9 and the terminal 15the film-form substrate 3 is formed continuously connected (see FIGS. 7and 10).

As shown in FIG. 7, the spacer 5 and the film-form member 7 are notdisposed in the locations of the terminal 9 and the terminal 15 or inthat vicinity. Accordingly, the end faces 25 of the spacer 5 and thefilm-form member 7 are positioned in a place somewhat removed from theterminals 9 and 15, such that the terminals 9 and 15 and parts of theterminals 9 and 15 side of the conductors 13 and 19 are exposed.

Each of the terminals 9 and 15 are connected to each of signal wires 27and 29 of a wiring harness via a connector or eyelet or the like (seeFIGS. 7 and 9). A thin insulating cover may be applied to the exposedparts of the conductors 13 and 19 to protect those exposed parts. Theelectrodes, the terminals and the conductors are preferably formed by aprinting technique and the like.

The operation of the seating detection switch 1 when mounted on the seatof a car will now be described.

In the normal condition of the seating detection switch 1, the conductor21A is insulated from the electrodes 11A and 17A (at the least, from oneof either of those electrodes), thus the electrode 11A and the electrode17A are mutually insulated (see FIG. 8).

In the same manner, each of the other conductors 21B, 21C and 21D areinsulated from their corresponding respective electrodes. In thiscondition the seating detection switch 1 is in the OFF condition.

When a passenger sits down in the seat equipped with the seatingdetection switch 1, at least one of part of the film-form substrate 3(the locations where the electrodes 11A and 17A etc. are disposed) orpart of the film-form member 7 (the location where the conductor 21A isdisposed) bends in response to the body weight of the passenger (bendingin response to force in the direction of the arrow AR1 or arrow AR2 inFIG. 8). Thus, at least one pair from among the electrodes 11A and 17A,electrodes 11B and 17B, electrodes 11C and 17C, and electrodes 11D and17D become mutually conductive through at least one from among theconductors 21A, 21B, 21C or 21D.

This conduction causes the first terminal 9 and the second terminal 15to become mutually conductive and information that the seating detectionswitch 1 has entered the ON condition is transmitted to for example, acontrol device (not shown in the drawings) of the car via a signal wireof the wiring harness.

As the terminals 9 and 15 of the seating detection switch 1 are disposedon one of the surfaces of the seating detection switch 1 (or thefilm-form substrate 3), when a connection terminal of an electric wire(signal wire) attached to a wiring harness or the like is connected tothose terminals there is no need to turn the seating detection switch 1over. Accordingly, a connection terminal of an electric wire attached toa wiring harness or the like can be easily connected to the terminals 9and 15 of the seating detection switch 1.

Further, as the terminals 9 and 15 of the seating detection switch 1 arearranged in mutual proximity and the film-form substrate 3 are formedcontinuously between these two terminals, if for example a pulling forceis exerted on either one of the signal wires 27 or 29, this pullingforce can be received by that part having the film-form substrate 3 laidcontinuously between the terminal 9 and the terminal 15. This providesan improved degree of strength in response to an external force such aspulling force applied by a signal wire extending from the seatingdetection switch 1.

Here, the part of the seating detection switch 1 comprised of theelectrodes 11A and 17A and the conductor 21A is referred to as a switchportion (contact) 31A. In the same manner, the part comprised of theother electrodes 11B and 17B as well as the conductor 21B is referred toas a switch portion 31B and the remaining groupings of the electrodes11C and 17C with the conductor 21C and of the electrodes 11D and 17Dwith the conductor 21D, are respectively referred to as a switch portion31C and a switch portion 31D (see FIG. 7). It is evident from the abovedescription that OR circuit is formed by these switch portions 31A, 31B,31C and 31D.

In this seating detection switch 1 there are four switch portions 31A,31B, 31C and 31D, however it is also suitable for there to be one switchportion or a plurality of switch portions.

In the seating detection switch 1, the film-form substrate 3 (or theseating detection switch 1) extends as one single body on the side ofthe terminals 9 and 15, and extends as two branches on the side of theswitch portions 31A and 31B, and 31C and 31D, however as describedsubsequently with respect to the second embodiment of this invention,the film-form member may be of another suitable form.

Further, the shape and position of installation of the conductor 13 orthe conductor 19 may be changed to accommodate change in the shape ofthe film-form substrate or the number of switch portions.

When forming these switch portions 31A, 31B, 31C and 31D, the spacer 5or the film-form member 7 may also be formed as individual round shapedmembers 33A, 33B, 33C and 33D as shown by the double dash chain line inFIG. 7.

SECOND EMBODIMENT

FIG. 13 is a schematic view of the seating detection switch 41 accordingto a second embodiment of the present invention.

This seating detection switch 41 differs from the seating detectionswitch 1 in the shape of the film-form substrate 43, the spacer 45 andthe film-form member 47, and in respect of the provision of the nineswitch portions 49A-49I. In all other respects this switch 43 issubstantially the same as the switch 1.

That is to say, the film-form substrate 43, spacer 45 and film-formmember 47 of the seating detection switch 41 branch into three on theside of the switch 41 opposite to that side where the terminals 9 and 15are arranged, and three switch portions are arranged on each of thesethree branches. The switch portions 49A-49I form an OR circuit.

At the side of the film-form substrate 43 at which the terminals 9 and15 are disposed, an extending part 51 is provided at which the spacer 45and the film-form member 47 are removed.

The seating detection switch 41 installed on a car seat 53 will now bedescribed.

FIG. 14 shows the seating detection switch 41 installed on the seat 53of a car with the external covering of the seat 53 removed. Accordingly,when a car in which the seat 53 is installed is sold for use, theseating detection switch 41 would be covered with the external coveringand therefore could not be seen from the outside.

The seat 53 comprises a seating part 55 and seat back 57. Forcomfortable seating of a passenger the center area of the seating part55 in the widthwise direction is divided into three parts; a front part55A, a center part 55B and a rear part 55C.

The seating detection switch 41 is installed conforming to the surfaceof the rear part 55C so that that side of the switch 41 having theextending part 51 where the spacer and the film-form member are removed,faces toward the rearward of the seat 53. The end of the extending part51 (the end part at the rear of the seat 53) enters in between theseating part 55 and the seat back 57, while a wiring harness extendsfrom the terminals 9 and 15 disposed at the end of the extending part51. The terminals 9 and 15 and the wiring harness are concealed by theimage of the seat 53 and therefore do not appear in FIG. 14.

When a passenger sits in the seat 53 at least one from among the switchportions 49A-49I becomes conductive (turns ON) in response to the weightof the passenger, and that part of the rear part 55C of the seat 53where the bodyweight of the passenger is exerted substantially, that isto say, the area from just in front of the border of the rear part 55Cand the seat back 57 to the border of the rear part 55C and the centerpart 55B is substantially depressed down. The seating detection switch41 curves (bends) substantially at the extending part 51 in response tothis downward depression.

As described above, the extending part 51 has the spacer 45 and thefilm-form member 47 removed, comprises the film-form substrate 43 andconductive wires fixed thereto and is thin in the thickness. Thus, evenif the seating detection switch 41 curves (bends) substantially in thethickness direction at the extending part 51, the stress arising in thefilm-form substrate 43 at the extending part 51 is small. Accordinglyeven though the extending part 51 is subject to being substantiallycurved repeatedly due to the action of passengers sitting down in andstanding up from the seat 53, the extending part 51 is resilient anddoes not sustain damage easily.

Further, the spacer 45 having an adhesive agent applied to both surfacesthereof is not installed at the extending part 51. Thus, even thoughthis substantial bending action occurs repeatedly, there is no concernthat the conductive wires of the first conductor 59A and the secondconductor 59B fixed to the film-form substrate 43 will transfer from thefilm-form substrate 43 to the spacer 45 and peel away. Accordingly, itis extremely difficult for damage to occur to the seating detectionswitch 41 due to cutting of the wires of the conductive wires 59A and59B.

In the above description the extending part 51 is resilient to beingbent as it is formed as a long thin member, however this extending part51 may also be strengthened by being constructed in otherconfigurations. Concrete examples of such strengthening configurationswill now be described.

FIG. 15 is an expanded perspective view of XV in FIG. 13.

The extending part 51 that bends substantially, has the spacer 45 andthe film-form member 47 removed and is strengthened as an insulatingresistance layer 200 is disposed over one surface of the film-formsubstrate 43 so as to cover the first conductor (conductive wire) 59Aand the second conductor (conductive wire) 59B.

The resistance layer 200 is formed of a synthetic resin such aspolyester or the like, and is disposed on one surface of the film-formsubstrate 43 by being printed thereon. The resistance layer 200 is of athickness of 15 μm or thereabouts and has the flexibility.

The resistance layer 200 is formed on one of the surfaces of thefilm-form substrate 43 at the extending part 51 that bendssubstantially, after the electrode 59A and the electrode 59B are formedon that surface of the film-form substrate 43.

The film-form member 47 comprises an insulating member of a thickness ofabout 100 μm. The spacer 45 comprises for example an insulating memberof a thickness of about 150 μm and has an adhesive agent applied to bothsurfaces to facilitate the laminating together of the film-formsubstrate 43 and the film-form member 47. The thickness of the spacer 45must be such that a contact of the film-form substrate 43 and a contactof the film-form member 47 are normally separate from each other.

Here, if a bending force is applied to a planar member like the seatingdetection switch 41, making one of the surfaces convex and the othersurface concave, the degree of shape transformation at the center linein the thickness direction of the planar member is substantially zero,while the degree of shape transformation increases, substantiallyproportionately, toward one surface or the other surface away from thecenterline.

If the seating detection switch 41 curves at that part where thefilm-form member 47 and the spacer 45 are provided, in other words, thepart where the film-form substrate 43 and the film-form member 47 aremutually affixed together via the spacer 45, the bending between thelayers is substantial. That is to say, at this part, the seatingdetection switch 41 becomes thicker as the film-form substrate 43, thespacer 45 and the film-form member 47 are layered together, and as thedistance from the centerline of this thickness to one of the surfaces ofthe film-form substrate 43 is substantial, the degree of shapetransformation of a conductor (the conducting wires 59A or 59B) disposedon one of the surfaces of the film-form substrate 43 is substantial.

Accordingly, there is concern that due to the curving action applied tothis part or the repetition of such curving action a conductive wire(conductive wire 59A or 59B) disposed on one of the surfaces of thefilm-form substrate 43 may be damaged, and break.

Moreover, if this part of the seating detection switch 41 is made tocurve substantially, when the temperature is low the adhesive agentapplied to the spacer 45 may be hardened and due to this hardening, aconductor (conductive wire 59A or conductive wire 59B) disposed on oneof the surfaces of the film-form substrate 43 may transfer toward theadhesive agent layer causing damage to the conductor and the breaking ofthe wire.

However, at the part of the seating detection switch 41 that curvessubstantially ([the extending part 51; tail part 51]) the spacer 45 andthe film-form member 47 are removed and an insulating resistance layer200 is disposed on one of the surfaces of the film-form substrate 43 soas to cover each of the conductors (conductive wires 59A and 59B).Accordingly, in this part that is subject to substantial curvature, thedistance from the centerline in the thickness direction to the surfaceof the film-form substrate 43 is small, and the degree of shapetransformation affecting a conductor (conductive wires 59A and 59B)disposed on that surface of the film-form substrate 43 is small.

Accordingly, the degree of shape transformation of the conductor(conductive wires 59A and 59B) disposed on one of the surfaces of thefilm-form substrate 43 is less than that of a part where the spacer 45and the film-form member 47 are installed and it is more difficult forwire damage to occur due to breakage. Moreover, as the resistance layer200 does not provide an adhesive layer and has the flexibility, evenunder low temperature conditions there is no concern that such aconductor will transfer toward the resistance layer, therefore there isno concern of breaking of the conductor caused by such transferring.

Here, for easy understanding, the embodiment will be described usingconcrete numerals, however this should not be understood as restrictingthis embodiment within such numerals. Provided that the conductor(conductive wire 59A or conductive wire 59B) disposed on one of thesurfaces of the film-form substrate 43 does not easily sustain wirebreakage due to the curvature of the extending part 51 of the seatingdetection switch 41, any of the numeral values provided below may besuitably changed.

The film-form substrate 43 is made in thickness of 100 μm, the spacer 45in thickness of 150 μm, the film-form member 47 in thickness of 100 μm,and the resistance layer 200 in thickness of 15 μm. The thickness of thethin conductors (conductive wires 59A and 59B) and the thickness of theadhesive layer disposed on the spacer 45 are not detailed here, as beingextremely thin in comparison to the thickness of each of those othermembers.

At those parts where the spacer 45 and the film-form member 47 areprovided the thickness of the seating detection switch 41 equals 350 μm(100 μm+150 μm+100 μm). Accordingly, the centerline is positioned in thelocation 175 μm (350 μm/2) from one of the surfaces of the seatingdetection switch 41 (the surface of the film-form substrate 43).Further, the conductors (conductive wires 59A and 59B) disposed on thefilm-form substrate 43 are positioned 75 μm (175 μm−100 μm) from one ofthe surfaces of the seating detection switch 41.

On the other hand, at those parts where the spacer 45 and the film-formmember 47 are removed and the resistance layer 200 is installed, thethickness of the seating detection switch 41 is 115 μm (100 μm+15 μm).Thus, the centerline in the thickness direction of these parts ispositioned 57.5 μm (115 μm/2) from one of the surfaces of the seatingdetection switch 41 (the surface of the film-form substrate 43).Further, the conductors (conductive wires 59A and 59B) installed on thefilm-form substrate 43 are positioned 42.5 μm (100 μm−57.5 μm) from oneof the surfaces of the seating detection switch 41.

Thus, when the seating detection switch 41 is bent to curve the degreeof shape transformation of the conductive wire is less when bendingoccurs in those parts where the film-form member 47 and the spacer 45are removed and the resistance layer 200 is installed, than when bendingoccurs in parts where the spacer 45 and the film-form member 47 arepresent.

Moreover, the resistance layer 200 of the seating detection switch 41 isformed so as to enter slightly in between the spacer 45 and thefilm-form substrate 43.

In other words, rather than to the boundary between parts where thespacer 45 and the film-form member 47 are present and parts where theyare removed, to the side of the seating detection switch 41 where thespacer 45 and the film-form member 47 are installed, the resistancelayer 200 extends slightly so as to be formed between the spacer 45 andthe film-form substrate 43 (see resistance layer 200A in FIG. 15). Thatis to say, for a very short distance only, the spacer 45, the film-formmember 47 and the resistance layer 200 overlap.

As in the seating detection switch 41 the spacer 45, the film-formmember 47 and the resistance layer 200 overlap, the concentration ofstress sustained by the conductors (the conductive wires 59A and 59B)disposed on the film-form substrate 43 is avoided at the boundarybetween those parts where the spacer 45 and the film-form member 47 arepresent and those parts where they are removed, thereby alleviatingconcern of damage and consequent wire breakage affecting thoseconductors.

Again, in the seating detection switch 41, the surface of the resistancelayer 200 is covered with a thin, film-form protective tape 202 that isflexible. This protective tape 202 provides an adhesive agent on onesurface. After the conductors (conductive wires 59A, 59B) are formed onone surface of the film-form substrate 43, the resistance layer 200 isformed and the spacer 45 and the film-form member 47 are installed, theprotective tape 202 is affixed to the surface of the resistance layer200 using this adhesive layer.

The protective tape 202 may be wrapped over the part having the spacer45 and the film-form member 47 (a part 202A may be formed as shown inFIG. 15), or it may be formed over the entirety of the film-form member47 side of the resistance layer 200.

As the protective tape 202 is provided, the resistance layer 200 can beprotected. Further, as the resistance layer 200 is provided, theadhesive part of the protective tape 202 does not come into directcontact with the conductors (conductive wires 59A, 58B) disposed on onesurface of the film-form substrate 43. Thus, even when the seatingdetection switch 41 is bent to curve, the conductor (conductive wire 59Aor 58B) is prevented from peeling away.

Moreover, if for example the thickness of the protective tape 202 is 50μm, at the part where the spacer 45 and the film-form member 47 areinstalled the thickness of the seating detection switch 41 becomes 350μm (100 μm+150 μm+100 μm). Accordingly, the centerline in the thicknessdirection of this part is positioned 175 μm (350 μm/2) from one of thesurfaces of the seating detection switch 41 (the surface of thefilm-form substrate). Further, a conductor disposed on the film-formsubstrate 43 is positioned 75 μm (175 μm−100 μm) from one of thesurfaces of the seating detection switch 41.

On the other hand, at the part with the spacer 45 and the film-formmember 47 removed and the resistance layer 200 and the protective tape202 are installed, the thickness of the seating detection switch 41becomes 165 μm (100 μm+15 μm+50 μm). Thus, the centerline in thethickness direction in this part is positioned 82.5 μm (165 μm/2) fromone surface of the seating detection switch 41 (the surface of thefilm-form substrate 43). Moreover, the conductors (conductive wires 59Aand 58B) disposed on the film-form substrate 43 are positioned 17.5 μm(100 μm−82.5 μm) from one of the surfaces of the seating detectionswitch 41.

Accordingly, when the seating detection switch 41 is bent to curve, thedegree of shape transformation of the conductor (conductive wire 59A orconductive wire 58B) is less in the case where the protective tape 202is provided than in the case when this tape is not provided, therebysuppressing damage to such a conductive wire when such bending occurs.

THIRD EMBODIMENT

FIG. 16 is a schematic view of a seating detection switch according to athird embodiment of the present invention.

The seating detection switch 61 in FIG. 16 differs from the seatingdetection switch 41 according to the second embodiment, in that parts63A, 63B and 63C at which the spacer and film-form member are removedare further away from the terminals 9 and 15 and are each formed longover the central portion of the film-form substrate 63 that branchesinto three. In all other respects this seating detection switch 61 isgenerally the same as the seating detection switch 41.

The seating detection switch 61 installed on a car seat 73 will now bedescribed.

FIG. 17 shows the seating detection switch 61 installed on a car seat73.

The seat 73 comprises a seating part 75 and seat back 77. In the samemanner as the seat 53, for comfortable seating of a passenger, in theseat 73 also the center area of the seating part 75 in the widthwisedirection is divided into three parts; a front part 75A, a center part75B and a rear part 75C, however the point of difference between the twoseats is that the border PL1 between the center part 75B and the rearpart 75C is positioned more to the rear in the case of the seat 73.

The seating detection switch 61 is installed on the seat 73 such thatthe parts 63A, 63B and 63C of the switch 61 span over the border PL 1.

When a passenger sits in the seat 73 at least one from among the switchportions 49A-49I becomes conductive (turns ON) in response to the weightof the passenger. Further, as the body weight of the passenger exertsmore substantially on either the rear part 75C or the center part 75B adifference in weight dispersal arises at the border PL 1, in response towhich, the parts 63A, 63B and 63C curve substantially.

In this way, even though the parts 63A, 63B and 63C are bent to curvesubstantially, because they are of a thin form, in the same manner asthe second embodiment, damage to or wire breakage in those parts issubstantially prevented. It is also suitable to install a resistancelayer or protective tape on the parts 63A, 63B and 63C in the samemanner as the second embodiment.

FOURTH EMBODIMENT

FIG. 18 is a schematic view of a seating detection switch 81 accordingto a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 shows only conductors, electrodes and terminals to be disposedon a film-form substrate of the switch.

The seating detection switch 81 differs from the seating detectionswitch 1 according to the first embodiment in that a switch 83A and aswitch 83B form an AND circuit 83C and the switch portions 85A and 85Bform an AND circuit 85C, while the AND circuit 83C and the AND circuit85C together form an OR circuit. In all other respects this switch 81 issubstantially the same as the switch 1.

That is to say, the seating detection switch 81 comprises: a film-formsubstrate (not shown) made of insulating material; a thin, longconductor (first conductor) 89 fixed to one of the surfaces of thefilm-form substrate, which is provided with a terminal (first terminal)86 at one end, and an electrode (first electrode) 87 at other end; athin, long conductor (second conductor) 95 fixed to the same surface ofthe film-form substrate, which is provided with a terminal (secondterminal) 91 at one end, and an electrode (second electrode) 93 at otherend, and which is insulated from the first conductor 89; and a thinconductor 99 fixed to the same surface of the film-form substrate, whichis provided with an electrode 96 corresponding to the first electrode 87at one end, and an electrode 97 corresponding to the second electrode 93at the other end, and which is insulated from the first conductor 89 andthe second conductor 95.

The seating detection switch 81 further comprises: a film-form member(not shown) disposed substantially parallel but slightly spaced apartfrom the film-form substrate via a spacer (not shown) on the samesurface of the film-form substrate; a thin conductor (third conductor)101 fixed to the surface of the film-form substrate facing the film-formmember; and a thin conductor 103 fixed to the same surface of thefilm-form substrate and insulated from the conductor 101.

When a passenger sits down in the seat equipped with the seatingdetection switch 81 at least one from among part of the film-formsubstrate and the film-form member, bends in response to the body weightof the passenger, then the electrode 87 and the electrode 96, becomemutually conductive via the conductor 101 (the switch 83A becomesconductive), and the electrode 93 becomes mutually conductive with theelectrode 97 via the conductor 103 (the switch 83B becomes conductive).

The switch portions 85A, 85B are configured substantially the same asthe switch portions 83A and 83B.

Apart from the point that part of the switch portions form an ANDcircuit, the seating detection switch 81 operates substantially the sameas the seating detection switch 1 according to the first embodiment andfurnishes substantially the same effects.

FIFTH EMBODIMENT

FIG. 19 is a schematic view of a seating detection switch according to afifth embodiment of the present invention.

The seating detection switch 111 shown in FIG. 19 is configured havingthe spacer 115 shown in FIG. 21, disposed as it is, without being turnedover, on (the front surface of) the film-form substrate 113 shown inFIG. 20, while the film-form member 117 shown in FIG. 22 is disposed asit is without being turned over, on (the front surface of) the spacer115.

The seating detection switch 111 differs from the seating detectionswitch 1 according to the first embodiment in that one electrode, oneconductor extending from this electrode and two terminals are disposedon the film-form substrate, while the other electrode and anotherconductor extending from the other electrode are disposed on thefilm-form member, and these electrodes comprise switch portions. In allother respects the switch 111 is substantially the same as the seatingdetection switch 1.

That is to say, the seating detection switch 111 comprises a film-formsubstrate 113 made of insulating material. On one of the surfaces ofthis film-form substrate 113, a film-form member 117, made of insulatingmaterial, is disposed substantially parallel to the substrate 113, butslightly separated therefrom via a spacer 115, made of insulatingmaterial.

FIG. 20 is a schematic view of the film-form substrate 113 of theseating detection switch 111. On one of the surfaces thereof (the frontsurface in FIG. 20), a long, thin conductor (first conductor) 123 isfixed, which is provided with a terminal (first terminal) 119 at oneend, and electrodes (first electrode) 121A-121D toward the other end.

Moreover, on that same surface of the film-form substrate 113, a long,thin conductor (second conductor) 135 is fixed, which is provided with aterminal (second terminal) 131 at one end, and an electrode (secondelectrode) 133 at the other end, and which is insulated from theconductor (first conductor) 123.

FIG. 21 is a schematic view of the spacer 115 of the seating detectionswitch 111. In the locations of the spacer 115 corresponding to theelectrodes 121A-121D, the through holes 137A-137D are formed, largerthan those electrodes 121A-121D, respectively. In the location of thespacer 115 corresponding to the electrode 133, a through whole 137E isformed, larger than the electrode 133.

FIG. 22 is a schematic view of the film-form member 117 of the seatingdetection 111. On the surface of the film-form member 117 that faces thefilm-form substrate 113 a long conductor 129 (third conductor) is fixed,providing electrodes (fourth electrode) 125A-125D that correspond to theelectrodes 121A-121D toward one end thereof, and at the other end,another electrode (third electrode) 127 to be conductive with the secondelectrode 133 of the conductor 135.

When a passenger sits in a seat equipped with this seating detectionswitch 111 at least one from among part of the film-form member 113 andpart of the film-form substrate 117 bends, in response to the bodyweight of the passenger, such that each of the electrodes 121A-121Dbecomes mutually conductive with the respective corresponding electrodes125A-125D.

This configuration of the seating detection switch 111 means that theswitch 111 operates substantially the same as the seating detectionswitch 1 according to the first embodiment, and furnishes substantiallythe same effects.

It is not necessary however for the seating detection switch 111 to beof the above described configuration. Provided that the thin, film-formseating detection switch is formed, having contacts (switch portions)that conduct with each of the terminals 119 and 131 within the switch,being capable of detecting whether or not a passenger is seated in aseat on which the seating detection switch is installed by detectingwhether or not each of the contacts (between the terminals 119, 131) areconducting, while disposing each of the terminals 119, 131 on one of thesurfaces of the seating detection switch, the configuration of theseating detection switch 111 can be appropriately changed.

Further, in the case of the seating detection switches according to thefirst, fourth and fifth embodiments, those parts that sustainsubstantial curving may be strengthened in the same way as those partsare strengthened in the seating detection switch according to the secondembodiment.

Seating detection switches according to sixth to ninth embodiments ofthe present invention will now be described.

The seating detection switches according to the sixth to ninthembodiments of the present invention comprise a film-form substrate, aplanar spacer, a film-form member, a first terminal and a secondterminal. The film-form substrate and the film-form member are disposedmutually parallel and spaced apart from each other with the spacerinterposed therebetween (one each in contact with the respectivesurfaces of the spacer). When a passenger sits down in a seat on whichone of these seating detection switches is installed, at least one fromamong part of the film-form substrate and part of the film-form memberbends, and the first terminal and the second terminal become mutuallyconductive.

Instead of the spacer, those parts of these seating detection switchesthat curve substantially when a passenger sits have a double-facedadhesive tape that is thinner than the spacer.

SIXTH EMBODIMENT

FIG. 23 is a schematic view of a seating detection switch 401 accordingto a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view along the line XXIV-XXIV of FIG. 23,while

FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view along the line XXV-XXV of FIG. 23. Theillustrations in FIGS. 24 and 25 draw the seating detection switch 401expanded in the thickness direction, vertically in the case of FIG. 24and from left to right in the case of FIG. 25.

The seating detection switch 401 is installed at the rear side of acovering of a car seat as described above and is a thin, film-formseating detection switch capable of detecting whether or not a passengeris sitting in the seat, that comprises a film-form substrate 403 made ofinsulating material. A film-form member 407 made of insulating materialis disposed over one of the surfaces of the film-form substrate 403,substantially parallel thereto, but slightly separated from thefilm-form substrate 403 via a spacer 405 made of insulating material.

FIG. 26 is a schematic view of the film-form substrate 403 of theseating detection switch 401. On that same surface of the film-formsubstrate 403 (the front surface in FIG. 26; and when incorporated inthe seating detection switch 401, that surface positioned facing thefilm-form member 407 that is in contact with the spacer 405), a thin,long, (first) conductor (conduction route) 413 is fixed, providing aterminal (first terminal) 409 at one end, and (first) electrodes(contacts) 411A, 411B, 411C and 411D toward the other end.

On that same surface of the film-form substrate 403, a thin, longconductor (second conductor) 419 is also secured, providing a terminal(second terminal) 415 at one end, and electrodes (second electrodes)470A, 470B, 417C and 417D toward the other end, which is insulated fromthe conductor 413.

FIG. 27 is a schematic view of the spacer 405 of the seating detectionswitch 401. This spacer 405 has adhesive on both surfaces thereof, thatsecure the film-form substrate 403 and the film-form member 407.

FIG. 28 is a schematic view of the film-form member 407 of the seatingdetection switch 401. A thin conductors (third conductors) 421A, 421B,421C and 421D are fixed to one surface of the film-form member 407 (thesurface on the reverse side in FIG. 28; when incorporated in the seatingdetection switch 401, the side positioned facing the film-form substrate403, in contact with the spacer 405).

The seating detection switch 401 shown in FIG. 23 is configured havingthe spacer 405 shown in FIG. 27, disposed as it is, without being turnedover, over (the front surface of) the film-form substrate 403 shown inFIG. 26, while the film-form member 407 shown in FIG. 28 is disposed asit is without being turned over, over (the front surface of) the spacer405. Thus, the one surface of the film-form substrate 403 and the onesurface of the film-form member 407 are opposite to each other.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 26, over the film-form substrate 403the electrode 411A and the electrode 417A are positioned in proximity,mutually opposing each other. The electrode pairs consisting of theelectrode 411B and the electrode 417B, the electrode 411C and theelectrode 417C, as well as the electrode 411D and the electrode 417D areeach arranged in the same manner. Each of these electrodes is formed infor example a comb shape (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 27, through holes 423A, 423B, 423C and 423D are formedin the spacer 405. As shown in FIG. 23, when the spacer 405 is secured,by being adhered for example, in the prescribed position over thefilm-form substrate 403, the through hole 423A is positioned in thelocation corresponding to the electrode 411A and the electrode 417A. Inlike manner, the through hole 423B is positioned in the locationcorresponding to the electrode 411B and the electrode 417B; the throughhole 423C is positioned in the location corresponding to the electrode411C and the electrode 417C; and the through hole 423D is positioned inthe location corresponding to the electrode 411D and the electrode 417D.

The through hole 423A is formed larger than the location in which theelectrodes 411A and 417A are provided, and surrounds the location ofthose electrodes. Further, each of the other through holes 423B, 423Cand 423D, are formed larger than the locations of the respectiveelectrodes to which they correspond in substantially the same manner asthe through hole 423A, so as to surround the respective locations ofthose corresponding electrodes.

The conductor 421A is located in the position corresponding to theelectrode 411A, the electrode 417A and the through hole 423A when thefilm-member 407 is fixed by being adhered for example in the prescribedposition on the spacer 405 adhered to the film-form substrate 403. Inthe same manner, the conductor 421B is positioned in the locationcorresponding to the electrode 411B, the electrode 417B and the throughhole 423B; the conductor 421C is positioned in the locationcorresponding to the electrode 411C, the electrode 417C and the throughhole 423C; and the conductor 421D is positioned in the locationcorresponding to the electrode 411D, the electrode 417D and the throughhole 423D.

The through hole 423A is formed larger than the conductor 421A andsurrounds that conductor. Each of the other through holes, 423B, 423Cand 423D also formed larger than the corresponding conductors 421B, 421Cand 421D in the same manner as the through hole 423A, so that each ofthose other through holes surrounds the location of the correspondingconductors.

The conductor 421A is formed to a size that surrounds the externaldiameters (outlines) of the electrode 411A and the electrode 417A (theenvelope of the external diameter of the electrode 411A and the externaldiameter of the electrode 417A). In the same manner, each of theconductors 421B, 421C and 421D also are formed of a size that surroundsthe respective external diameters of each of the electrodescorresponding thereto.

In the seating detection switch 401, a terminal 409, formed for examplein a rectangular shape and a terminal 415 of a rectangular shape thesame as the terminal 409, are disposed in mutual proximity, parallelwith respect to each other, on the same surface of the film-formsubstrate 403. The film-form substrate 403 is formed joiningcontinuously between these terminals 409 and 415 (see FIGS. 23 and 26).

As shown in FIG. 23, the film form member 407 is not disposed in thelocations where the terminals 409 and 415 are located, and in thatvicinity. Accordingly, the end face 426 of the film-form member 407 ispositioned slightly apart from the terminals 409 and 415, and thoseterminals and part of the conductors 413 and 419 at the respective sidesthereof where those terminals are disposed, are exposed.

As shown in FIG. 25, instead of the spacer 405, double-sided adhesivetape 430 that is thinner than the spacer 405, is disposed over theregion 428 extending from the vicinity of the locations where theterminals 409 and 415 are arranged to a position separated from thoseterminals by a determined distance (in FIG. 23, the region between theend face 426 of the film-form member 407 and the end face 425 of thespacer 405).

The double-sided tape 430 has a film shape and has adhesive on the frontface and the rear face. Accordingly, in the same manner as the spacer405, the film-form member 403 and the film-form substrate 407 are fixedto the respective sides of the double-sided tape 430.

This double-sided tape 430 is formed of a base material, such asnonwoven fabric having flexibility, impregnated with an adhesive agent,or alternatively, is formed without using a base material, simply of anadhesive agent that has strong adhesive and low viscosity.

Each of the terminals 409 and 415 are connected to the respective signalwires 427 and 429 of the wiring harness via a connector or eyelet or thelike (see FIGS. 23 and 25).

The operations of this seating detection switch 401 will now bedescribed.

In the seating detection switch 401 the electrode 411A and the electrode417A are normally insulated from each other as the conductor 421A of thefilm-form member 407 is insulated from the electrodes 411A and 417A (atleast from one of those electrodes) (refer FIG. 24).

In like manner, each of the other conductors 421B, 421C and 421D areisolated from the respective corresponding electrodes 411B, C and D and417B, C and D. In this condition the seating detection switch 401 is inthe OFF condition.

When a passenger sits down in a seat on which the seating detectionswitch 401 is installed, in response to the body weight of the seatedpassenger, at least one from among part of the film-form member 403 (theregion in which the electrodes 411A and 417A etc. are disposed) and partof the film-form substrate 407 (the region in which each of theconductors 421A, etc. are disposed) bends, in the directions of thearrows AR1 and AR3 in FIG. 24. In response to this at least one of thepairings of electrodes 411A and 417A, 411B and 417B, 411C and 417C, or411D and 417D, becomes mutually conductive.

Due to this conduction the terminal 409 and the terminal 415 becomemutually conductive and the fact that the seating detection switch 401has entered the ON condition is conveyed to a control device for example(not shown) of the car, via a signal wire of the wiring harness.

When the seating detection switch 401 is installed on a seat, the region428 (see FIG. 23) corresponds to that part that curves substantially inresponse to the seating of a passenger.

In the case of the seating detection switch 401, as the double-sidedtape that is thinner than the spacer 405 is disposed in thesubstantially curving region 428 instead of the spacer 405, thethickness of the seating detection switch 401 in that region 428 issmaller.

Here, if a bending force is applied to a planar member like the seatingdetection switch 401, making one of the surfaces convex and the othersurface concave, the degree of shape transformation at the center linein the thickness direction of the planar member is substantially zerowhile the degree of shape transformation increases, substantiallyproportionately, toward one of the surfaces away from the centerline andtoward the other surface. The planar member extends on one side thereof.

If the seating detection switch 401 curves at that part where film-formsubstrate 403, the film-form member 407 and the spacer 405 are provided,in other words, the part where the film-form substrate 403 and thefilm-form member 407 are mutually affixed together via the spacer 405,the bending between the layers is substantial.

That is to say, at this part, the seating detection switch 401 becomesthicker as the film-form substrate 403, the spacer 405 and the film-formmember 407 are layered together, and the distance from the centerline ofthis thickness to the other surface of the film-form substrate 403 (thesurface opposite that which faces the spacer 405) as well as thethickness from the centerline of this thickness to the other surface ofthe film-form member 407 (the surface opposite to that facing the spacer405), is substantial.

On the other hand, in the region 428 of the seating detection switch401, the seating detection switch 401 becomes thin as the double-sidedtape 430 that is thinner than spacer 405 is used. The distance from thecenterline in the thickness direction of the seating detection switch401 in the region 428, through to the other surface of the film-formsubstrate 403 (the surface opposite to the side facing the spacer 405)as well as the distance from the centerline to the other surface of thefilm-form member 407 (the surface opposite to that facing the spacer405), becomes small.

Accordingly, if the seating detection switch 401 curves (bends)substantially in the thickness direction, in the region 428 of theswitch 401, the distortion and stress arising in the film-form substrate403 and the film-form member 407 in that region 428 is small. Thus, evenif there is substantial curving occurring in this region 428 due to therepetitive actions of passengers sitting down in and standing up fromthe seat, the region 428 does not sustain damage easily.

In other words, when the thin, film-form seating detection switch 401capable of detecting whether or not a passenger is sitting in a seat isinstalled on a seat and a passenger sits down in this seat causing it tocurve substantially, the seating detection switch 401 does not sustaindamage easily.

Further, even if the seating detection switch 401 curves (bends)substantially in the thickness direction in the region 428, thedistortion and stress arising in each of the conducting wires 413 and419 disposed on the film-form substrate 403 in that region 428, issmaller than the distortion and stress arising where the spacer 405 isprovided. Accordingly, there is little concern that each of theconducting wires 413 and 419 will transfer toward the double-sided tape430 and sustain damage, even if substantial curving occurs in thatregion 428 due to the repetitive actions of a passenger sitting down andstanding up from the seat.

That is to say, as the region 428 is provided with the flexibledouble-sided tape 430 that is thinner than the spacer 405 instead of thespacer 405 that has adhesive on both surfaces thereof, there is littleconcern that the conductors (those conducting wires in contact with thedouble-sided tape 430) 413 and 419 fixed to the film-form substrate 403,will transfer from the film-form substrate 403 toward the double-sidedtape 430 and peel off if the region 428 sustains substantial curving.Thus, the occurrence of damage to the seating detection switch 401 dueto breakage of the conducting wires (conductors) 413 and 419 is reduced.

The flexibility of the double-sided tape 430 does not normallydeteriorate even under low temperatures, therefore if the seatingdetection switch 401 curves substantially in the region 428 under lowtemperature conditions, there is little concern that the conductingwires 413 and 419 will transfer toward the double-sided tape 430 and itis difficult for each of these conductive wires to be cut due to suchtransference.

Here, for easy understanding, the embodiment will be described usingconcrete values, however this should not be understood as restrictingthis embodiment within such parameters. Provided that the conductor(conducting wire 413 or conducting wire 419) disposed on one of thesurfaces of film-form substrate 403 does not easily sustain wirebreakage due to the curvature of the region 428 of the seating detectionswitch 401, any of the values provided below may be suitably changed.

The film-form substrate 403 is made a thickness of 100 μm, the spacer405 a thickness of 150 μm, the film-form member 407, a thickness of 100μm and the double-sided tape 430, a thickness of 15 μm. The thickness ofthe thin conductors (conductive wires 413 and 419) and the thickness ofthe adhesive layer disposed on the spacer 405 are not detailed here, asbeing extremely thin in comparison to the thickness of each of thoseother members. The thickness of the spacer 405 should be the thicknessrequired to maintain the contacts of the film-form substrate 403 and thecontacts of the film-form member 407 in a mutually separated state.

At those parts where the spacer 405 and the film-form member 407 areprovided the thickness of the seating detection switch 401 equals 350 μm(100 μm+150 μm+100 μm). Accordingly, the centerline is positioned in thelocation 175 μm (350 μm/2) from one of the surfaces of the seatingdetection switch 401 (the surface of the film form substrate 403).Further, the conductor 413 or conducting wire 419 disposed on thefilm-form substrate 403 are positioned 75 μm (175 μm−100 μm) from one ofthe surfaces of the seating detection switch 401.

On the other hand, at those parts where the spacer 405 is removed andthe double-sided tape 430 is installed, the thickness of the seatingdetection switch 401 is 215 μm (100 μm+15 μm+100 μm). Thus, thecenterline in the thickness direction of these parts is positioned 107.5μm (215 μm/2) from one of the surfaces of the seating detection switch401 (the surface of the film form substrate 403). Further, the conductor(conducting wire 413 or conducting wire 419) installed on the film-formsubstrate 403 is positioned 75 μm (175 μm−100 μm) from one of thesurfaces of the seating detection switch 401.

Thus, when the seating detection switch 401 is bent to curve, the degreeof shape transformation sustained by the film-form substrate 403,film-form member 407 and conducting wires 413 and 419 is less, and thestress arising in the film-form substrate 403, film-form member 407 andconducting wires 413 and 419 is small, when bending occurs in thoseparts where the spacer 405 is removed and the double-sided tape 430 isprovided than where the spacer 405 is provided.

As the terminals 409 and 415 are disposed on one of the surfaces (of thefilm-form substrate 403) of the seating detection switch 401, there isno need to turn the seating detection switch 401 over when connectingthe connection terminals of electric wires (signal wires) installed in awiring harness to those terminals. Accordingly, the connection terminalsof an electric wire or the like provided by a wiring harness can easilybe connected to each of the terminals 409 and 415 of the seatingdetection switch 401.

Further, the terminals 409 and 415 of the seating detection switch 401are arranged in mutual proximity, and the film-form substrate 403 isformed connected continuously between those terminals. Thus, if forexample a pulling force is exerted on either one of the signal wires 427or 429, this pulling force can be received by that part having thefilm-form substrate 403 laid continuously between the terminal 9 and theterminal 15. This provides an improved degree of strength in response toan external force such as pulling force applied to a signal wireextending from the seating detection switch 401.

Here, the part of the seating detection switch 401 comprised of theelectrodes 411A and 417A and the conductor 421A is referred to as aswitch portion (contact) 431A. In the same manner, the parts comprisedof the other electrodes 411B and 417B as well as the conductor 421B isreferred to as a switch portion 431B, and the remaining groupings of theelectrodes 411C and 417C with the conductor 421C and of the electrodes411D and 417D with the conductor 421D, are respectively referred to as aswitch portion 431C and a switch portion 431D (see FIG. 23). It isevident from the above description that an OR circuit is formed by theseswitch portions 431A, 431B, 431C and 431D, however it is also suitablefor these switch portions 431A, 431B, 431C and 431D to form an ANDcircuit.

In this seating detection switch 401 there are four switch portions431A, 431B, 431C and 431D, however it is also suitable for there to beone switch portion or a plurality of switch portions.

In the seating detection switch 401, the film-form substrate 403 (or theseating detection switch 401) extends along as one single body on theside having the terminals 409 and 415 and branches in to two extensionson the side having the switch portions 431A and 431B and 431C and 431D,however the film-form substrate (or the seating detection switch) may beof another suitable form.

Further, the shape and position of installation of the conductor 413 orthe conductor 419 may be changed to accommodate change in the shape ofthe film-form substrate or the number of switch portions.

When forming the switch portions 431A, 431B, 431C and 431D, the spacer405 or the film-form member 407 may also be formed as, individual roundshaped members 433A, 433B, 433C and 433D as shown by the double dashchain line in FIG. 23.

SEVENTH EMBODIMENT

FIG. 29 is a schematic view of the seating detection switch 441according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

The seating detection switch 441 differs from the seating detectionswitch 401 according to the sixth embodiment in the shape of thefilm-form substrate 443, the spacer 445 and the film-form member 447, aswell as in having nine switch portions 449A to 449I. In all otherrespects, this seating detection switch 441 is substantially the same asthe seating detection switch 401.

That is to say, the film-form substrate 443, spacer 445 and film-formmember 447 branch into three at that side of the seating detectionswitch 441 opposite to the side at which the terminal 409 and theterminal 415 are installed, and three switch portions are provided oneach of these branches. The switch portions 449A to 4491 form an ORcircuit.

At the side of the film-form substrate 443 where the terminals 409 and415 are installed, a long region (part) 451 is formed, providingdouble-sided tape 430A (formed substantially the same as thedouble-sided tape 430 according to the sixth embodiment) that is thinnerthan the spacer 445, instead of the spacer 445.

The seating detection switch 441 installed on a car seat to 453 will nowbe described.

FIG. 30 shows the seating detection switch 441 installed on the seat 453of a car with the external covering of the seat 453 removed.Accordingly, when a car in which the seat 453 is installed is sold foruse, the seating detection switch 441 would be covered with an externalseat covering and therefore could not be seen from the outside.

The seat 453 comprises a seating part 455 and seat back 457. Forcomfortable seating of a passenger the center area of the seating part455 in the widthwise direction is divided into three parts; a front part455A, a center part 455B and a rear part 455C.

The seating detection switch 441 is installed conforming to the surfaceof the rear part 455C so that the side of the switch 441 having theregion 451 where the spacer and the film-form member are removed, facestoward the rear of the seat 453. The end of the region 451 (the end atthe rear of the seat 453) enters in between the seating part 455 and theseat back 457, while a wiring harness extends from the terminals 409 and415 disposed at the end of the region 451. The terminals 409 and 450 andthe wiring harness are concealed by the image of the seat 453 andtherefore do not appear in FIG. 30.

When a passenger sits in the seat 453 at least one from among the switchportions 449A-449I becomes conductive (turns ON) in response to theweight of the passenger, and the part of the rear part 455C of the seat453 where the bodyweight of the passenger is exerted substantially, thatis to say, the region from just in front of the border of the rear part455C and the seat back 457 to the border of the rear part 455C in thecenter part 455B, is substantially depressed down. The seating detectionswitch 441 curves (bends) substantially at the region 451 in response tothis downward depression.

The seating detection switch 441 is constructed substantially the sameas the seating detection switch 401 and therefore operates insubstantially the same manner as the switch 401 and furnishessubstantially the same effects.

As described above, the region 451 has the double-sided tape 430 insteadof the spacer 445 and the thickness of the region is thereby reduced.Accordingly, in the same manner as the seating detection switch 401,even if the seating detection switch 441 curves (bends) substantially inthe thickness direction at the region 451, the stress arising infilm-form substrate 443 at the region 451 is small. Thus, even thoughthe region 451 is subjected to being substantially curved repeatedly dueto the action of passengers sitting down in and standing up from theseat 453, the region 451 is resilient and does not sustain damageeasily.

Further, the spacer 445 having adhesive on both sides thereof is notprovided in the region 451. Thus, there is no concern that theconducting wires 459A and 459B fixed to the film-form substrate 443 willtransfer from the film-form substrate 443 toward the spacer 445 and peeloff when substantial bending action occurs repeatedly. Accordingly, theoccurrence of damage to the seating detection switch 441 due to wirebreakage of the conducting wires 459A and 459B is substantiallyprevented.

EIGHTH EMBODIMENT

FIG. 31 is a schematic view of the seating detection switch 461according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

The seating detection switch 461 differs from the seating detectionswitch 441 according to the seventh embodiment in that the regions 463A,463B and 463C in which double-sided tape 430B is provided instead of thespacer, which is removed, are further separated from the terminals 409and 415, and are each formed long in the center part of a film-formsubstrate 463 which branches into three. In all other respects, thisseating detection switch 441 is substantially the same as the seatingdetection switch 401.

The seating detection switch 461 is constructed substantially the sameas the seating detection switches 401 and 441 and therefore operates insubstantially the same manner and furnishes substantially the sameeffects as the switches 401 and 441.

The seating detection switch 461 installed on a car seat to 473 will nowbe described.

FIG. 32 shows the seating detection switch 461 installed on the seat 473of a car.

The seat 473 comprises a seating part 475 and seat back 477. Forcomfortable seating of a passenger the center area of the seating part475 in the widthwise direction is divided into three parts; a front part475A, a center part 475B and a rear part 475C. In this respect the seat473 is the same as the seat 453, however, the border PL1 between thecenter part 475B and the rear part 475C is positioned more to the rearin the case of the seat 473 than in the case of the seat 453.

The seating detection switch 461 is installed on the seat 473 such thatthe regions 463A, 463B and 463C of the switch 461 span over the borderPL 1.

When a passenger sits in the seat 473 at least one from among the switchportions 449A-449I becomes conductive (turns ON) in response to theweight of the passenger. Further, as the body weight of the passengerexerts more substantially on either the rear part 475C or the centerpart 475B, a difference in weight dispersal arises at the border PL1, inresponse to which, each of the regions 463A, 463B and 463C curvesubstantially.

In this way, even though the regions 463A, 463B and 463C are bent tocurve substantially, because they are of a thin form, in the same manneras the seventh embodiment, damage to or wire breakage in those parts issubstantially prevented.

NINTH EMBODIMENT

In a seating detection switch according to the ninth embodiment of thepresent invention the configuration of the conductors and terminalsdisposed on the film-form substrate and film-form member differs fromthat found in the sixth to eighth embodiments, but in all otherrespects, the configuration is substantially the same as the sixth toeighth embodiments.

In the seating detection switches according to the sixth to eighthembodiments, two terminals and conductors are disposed on the film-formsubstrate, conductors are disposed on the film-form member and terminalsbecome conductive via the conductors. On the other hand, in the case ofthe ninth embodiment, a terminal and a conductor are disposed on afilm-form substrate and film-form member respectively, and the terminaldisposed on the film-form substrate becomes conductive with the terminaldisposed on the film-form member as the conductor disposed on thefilm-form substrate becomes conductive with the conductor disposed onthe film-form member.

In other words, the seating detection switch according to this ninthembodiment comprises: a first conductor fixed to one of the surfaces ofa film-form substrate (the surface facing a film-form member; thesurface facing a spacer) made of insulating material, providing a firstterminal at one end and a first electrode at other end; and a secondconductor fixed to one of the surfaces of the film-form member (thesurface facing the film-form substrate; the surface facing the spacer)made of insulating material, providing a second terminal at one end anda second electrode at the other end. The surface of the film-formsubstrate on which that first conductor is disposed and the surface ofthe film-form member on which the second conductor is disposed mutuallyoppose each other, and when a passenger sits down in a seat on whichthis seating detection switch is installed the first electrode and thesecond electrode come into contact and the first terminal and the secondterminal become conductive.

Accordingly, in the same manner as the seating detection switchaccording to each of the above described embodiments, in the seatingdetection switch according to the ninth embodiment, the area that curvessubstantially does not easily sustain damage or wire breakage.

TENTH EMBODIMENT

FIG. 33 is a schematic view of the seating detection switch 201according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention

In the same manner as the conventional seating detection switch 300 orthe seating detection switch 111 according to the fifth embodiment ofthe present invention, the detection switch 201 is for example arrangedat the rear side of the covering of a seat that a person can sit in,operates in response to the body weight of a passenger who sits down inthe seat and is used as a seating detection device for detecting whetheror not a passenger is sitting in the seat.

The seating detection switch 201 comprises a spacer that is the same asthe spacer 304 of the conventional seating detection switch 300 (seeFIG. 4). A film-form substrate 203 is arranged on one surface of thespacer 304 while a film-form member 205 is arranged on the other surfaceof that spacer 304. The film-form substrate 203 and the spacer 304, andthe film-form member 205 and the spacer 304 are adhered together by forexample, an adhesive agent.

The cross-section at the contact part of the seating detection switch201 (the cross-section in the thickness direction of the seatingdetection switch 201; the cross-section II-II in FIG. 33) is formed thesame as in the conventional seating detection switch 300 (see FIG. 2).

FIG. 34 is a schematic view of the film-form substrate 203 of theseating detection switch 201.

The film-form substrate 203 is flexible and comprises an insulating bodyof PEN resin or PET resin or the like in a thin, film form.

The film-form substrate 203 is formed thinly and comprises a proximal(side) region 203A formed as a long, thin belt like shape at adetermined width. At the end part of the proximal region 203A aintermediate region 203B is integrally provided, formed as a long, thinbelt like shape at a determined width.

The longitudinal direction of the proximal region 203A and thelongitudinal direction of the intermediate region 203B are substantiallyorthogonal, the central part in the longitudinal direction of theintermediate region 203B connects to the end part of the proximal region203A so that a letter T shape region is formed by the proximal region203A and the intermediate region 203B.

At one end in the longitudinal direction of the intermediate region 203Ba first distal (side) region 203C is integrally provided, formed as along, thin, belt like shape at a determined width. The longitudinaldirection of the intermediate region 203B and the longitudinal directionof the first distal region 203C are substantially orthogonal, thecentral part in the longitudinal direction of the first distal region203C connects to the end part in the longitudinal direction of theintermediate region 203B.

At the other end in the longitudinal direction of the intermediateregion 203B a second distal (side) region 203D formed in the same manneras the first distal region 203C is integrally provided in the samemanner as the first distal region 203C. A letter H shape is formed bythe intermediate region 203B, the first distal region 203C and thesecond distal region 203D.

Formed according to the above described configuration, the film-formsubstrate 203 branches into a plurality in the direction from theproximal part to the distal parts. Further, in relation to thecenterline CL1 that passes through the center part in the widthwisedirection of the proximal region 203A as it extends in the longitudinaldirection of that proximal region 203A, the film-form substrate 203 isformed linearly symmetrically, while each of the terminals of the firstand second distal regions 203C and 203D are arranged mutuallysubstantially spaced apart.

A first terminal 207 and a second terminal 209 are disposed spaced aparton the base part side (the opposite side to the intermediate region203B) of the proximal region 203A on one of the surfaces of thefilm-form member 203. The first terminal 207 is positioned at the sidewhere the first distal region 203C is disposed, while the secondterminal 209 is positioned at the side where the second distal region at203D is disposed. Further, the first and second terminals 207 and 209are disposed positioned linearly symmetrically in relation to thecenterline CL1.

The first terminal 207 and the second terminal 209 are used toelectrically connect the seating detection switch 201 to connectorsextending from another electrical device, such as for example a controldevice of a car. The first and second terminals 207 and 209 areconnected to another electrical device via a connection means, such as aconnector or eyelet.

An appropriate number of contacts 211A and 211B comprising a firstcontact arrangement 211 that become electrically conductive with thefirst terminal 207, are disposed on the surface of the film-formsubstrate 203 facing the film-form member 205 (the surface on the innerside; one of the surfaces of the film-form substrate 203).

More specifically, the contacts 211A and 211B are disposed respectivelyin the center part in the widthwise direction of the first distal region203C, at both end parts (both ends) in the longitudinal direction of thefirst distal region 203C. Further, a first conduction route 213 isformed on the surface of the film-form substrate 203 facing thefilm-form member 205, while the first terminal 207 and first contacts211A and 211B are electrically connected, conducting via this firstconduction route 213.

This first conduction route 213 extends at the first distal region 203Cside in the widthwise direction of the proximal region 203A, straight inthe longitudinal direction of the proximal region 203A from the firstterminal 207 to the center part in the widthwise direction of theintermediate region 203B, and then straight in the longitudinaldirection of the intermediate region 203B from the center part in thewidthwise direction of the intermediate region 203B to the center partin the widthwise direction of the distal region 203C.

Moreover, the first conducting route 213 branches into two parts at theplace where it extends to the center part in the widthwise direction ofthe first distal region 203C: one branch extends straight in thelongitudinal direction of the first distal region 203C to one of thefirst contacts 211A, and is connected to the contact 211A.

Further, the other branch of the first conducting route 213 extendsstraight in the longitudinal direction of the first distal region 203Cto the other of the first contact 211B, and is connected to the contact211B.

In other words, in coordination to the branching of the film-formsubstrate 203 into a plurality as it extends from the intermediateregion 203B to the first distal region 203C, the first conduction route213 also branches, and the contacts 211A and 211B are disposed at eachof the ends of the branched conduction route 213.

Further, on the surface of the film-form substrate 203 facing thefilm-form member 205 (the surface of the inner side; one of the surfacesof the film-form substrate 203), the appropriate number of contacts 215Aand 215B comprising a second contact arrangement 215, are disposedsymmetrical with the contacts 211A and 211B of the first contactarrangement 211, in relation to the centerline CL1.

As the contacts 215A and 215B are disposed on the second distal region203D that is substantially spaced apart from the first distal region203C, those contacts are substantially spaced apart from the firstcontact arrangement 201 (contacts 211A, 211B).

In the seating detection switch 201, the distance between the contactarrangement 211 and the contact arrangement 215 is longer than thedistance between the contacts comprising each of those contactarrangements. For example, the distance between the contact 211A that isone of the contacts comprising the first contact arrangement 211 and thecontact 215A that is one of the contacts comprising the second contactarrangement 215, is greater than the distance between the contact 211Aand the contact 211B that is the other of the contacts comprising thefirst contact arrangement 211.

A second conduction route 217 is also formed on the surface of thefilm-form substrate 203 facing the film-form member 205, and the secondterminal 209 and contacts 215A and 215B become electrically conductivevia this second conduction route 217. In relation to the centerline CL1,the second conduction route 217 is disposed symmetrical with the firstconduction route 213.

The contacts 211A, 211B, 215A and 215B as well as the conduction routes213 and 217 are formed for example from a thin silver fixed by beingprinted on to the surface of the film-form substrate 203 and a thincarbon disposed on the silver.

The spacer 304 (see FIG. 4) is flexible and of a film-form insulatingbody of PEN resin or PET resin or the like, like the film-form substrate203.

The external shape of the spacer 304 is formed of substantially the sameshape as the film-form substrate 203. That is to say, where thefilm-form substrate 203 is adhered to one of the surfaces of the spacer304 for forming the seating detection switch 201, the external shape ofthe spacer 304 and that of the film-form substrate 203 aresubstantially, mutually in conformance.

However, the position on the spacer 304 corresponding to the base partside of the proximal side region 203A of the film-form substrate 203(the position corresponding to the location where the terminals 207 and209 are disposed on the film-form substrate 203) is removed, so thatwhen the film-form substrate 203 is adhered to one of the surfaces ofthe spacer 304, the terminals 207 and 209 disposed on the film-formsubstrate 203 are not hidden, but are exposed.

Through holes 320A-320D penetrating through the spacer 304 in thethickness direction are disposed respectively in positions in the spacer304 corresponding to the positions at which the contacts 211A, 211B,215A and 215B are disposed.

FIG. 35 is a schematic view of the film-form member 205 of the seatingdetection switch 201.

This film-form member 205 is flexible, and of a film-form insulatingbody of PEN resin or PET resin or the like, like the film-form substrate203 or the spacer 304.

The external shape of the film-form member 205 is formed ofsubstantially the same shape as the spacer 304.

Further, on the surface of the film-form member 205 facing the film-formsubstrate 203 (the surface of the inner side; one of the surfaces of thefilm-form member 205), are disposed a third contact arrangement 219comprising the appropriate number of contacts 219A and 219B, opposingthe respective contacts 211A and 211B of the first contact arrangement,so as to be able to contact those contacts, and a fourth contactarrangement 221 comprising the appropriate number of contacts 221A and221B, opposing the respective contacts 215A and 215B of the secondcontact arrangement, so as to be able to contact those contacts.

In other words, when the film-form substrate 203, the spacer 304 and thefilm-form member 205 are layered successively for forming the seatingdetection switch 201, one contact 211A of the first contact arrangement211 and one contact 219A of the third contact arrangement 219 arepositioned mutually separated and facing each other, the spacer 304interposed therebetween (the through hole 320A of the spacer 304therebetween) (see FIG. 2). In the same manner, the other contact 211Bof the first contact arrangement 211 and the other contact 219B of thethird contact arrangement 219 are positioned mutually separated andfacing each other; one contact 215A of the second contact arrangement215 and one contact 221A of the fourth contact arrangement 221 arepositioned mutually separated and facing each other; and the othercontact 215B of the second contact arrangement 215 and the other contact221B of the fourth contact arrangement 221 are positioned mutuallyseparated and facing each other.

The appropriate contacts of the third contact arrangement 219 aredirectly, electrically conductive with the appropriate contacts of thefourth contact arrangement 221. For example, as shown in FIG. 35, all ofthe contacts 219A, 219B, 221A and 221B comprising the third contactarrangement 219 and the fourth contact arrangement 221 are electricallyconductive via a third conduction route 223 disposed on the surface ofthe film-form substrate 205 facing the film-form member 203.

The third conduction route 223 forms overall a letter H shape disposedon the surface of the film-form substrate 205 facing the film-formmember 203, comprising a first linear region 223A mutually joining onecontact 219A and the other contact 219B of the third contact arrangement219; a second linear region 223B mutually joining one contact 221A andthe other contact 221B of the fourth contact arrangement 221; and athird linear region 223C mutually joining the center part of the firstlinear region 223A with the center part of the second linear region223B.

In the same manner as each of the contacts 211A, 211B, 215A, and 215Band the conduction routes 213 and 217 on the film-form substrate 203,the contacts 219A, 219B, 221A and 221B, and the conduction route 223 areformed for example from a thin silver fixed by being printed on to thesurface of the film-form member 205 and a thin carbon disposed on thesilver.

The contacts and conduction routes of each of the embodiments of thisinvention are constructed in the same manner as the above describedcontacts and conduction routes.

FIG. 36 is a circuit diagram of the seating detection switch 201.

When the seating detection switch 201 is installed on a seat and aperson sits down in that seat, the seating detection switch 201 (thefilm-form substrate 203 and the film-form member 205) bends, then, whenone contact 211A of the first contact arrangement 211 and one contact219A of the third contact arrangement 219 or the other contact 211B ofthe first contact arrangement 211 and the other contact 219B of thethird contact arrangement 219 come into contact, moreover, when onecontact 215A of the second contact arrangement 215 and one of contact221A of the fourth contact arrangement 221 or the other contact 215B ofthe second contact arrangement 215 and the other contact 221B of thefourth contact arrangement 221 come into contact, the first terminal 207becomes electrically conductive with the second terminal 209 enablingthe seating of that person to be detected.

That is to say, in this embodiment if contacts of two locationspositioned substantially spaced apart with respect to each other do notcome into mutual contact, the first terminal 207 does not becomeelectrically conductive with the second terminal 209.

Accordingly, in this seating detection switch 201 these terminals do notbecome mutually electrically conductive simply as the contacts of acontact pairing in one location come into mutual contact with eachother, thereby preventing erroneous detection of the seating of a personin a seat in which the seating detection switch 201 is installed.

In other words, detection of the seating of a person requires the mutualcontact of contacts of a plurality of contact pair locations, and theseating detection switch 201 comprises AND circuits as a condition forthe detection of the seating of a person.

In the case of the conventional seating detection switch 300, there isconcern that repeated contact and separation between the contacts of asingle contact pairing occurring due to vibrations while a car havingthe seating detection switch 300 installed on a seat] is running, maycause a warning light to flash (such as flashing of a warning light whena seat belt is not fastened despite the fact that a person is sitting inthe seat), causing annoyance to the driver.

However, in the case of this seating detection switch 201 related tothis tenth embodiment, if there is not mutual contact between twocontact pairings that are mutually spaced apart, the first terminal 207does not become electrically conductive with the second terminal 209,thereby preventing erroneous flashing of a warning light, and avoidingthe discomfort potentially experienced by a driver.

Further, in the case of the conventional seating detection switch 300,discrepancies may arise in the spacing between contacts of each contactpairing due to the precision achieved in the processing of the variouscomponents such as the film-form substrate 302, the spacer 304 and thefilm-form member 306 or in the precision achieved when assembling thesecomponents together. For example, under normal condition in which aperson is not sitting in a seat in which the switch 300 is installed,the distance between the contact 308A and the contact 314A is small incomparison to the distance between the contact 308B and the contact 314Bor between the contact 308C and the contact 314C.

Further, in the case of the conventional seating detection switch, asthe distance between contacts is small, there may be contact betweencontacts of a contact pairing due to vibrations occurring as a car inwhich the switch is installed runs, causing erroneous detection of theseating of a person when in fact a person is not seated.

However, in the case of the seating detection switch 201 according tothis embodiment, if there is not contact between the contacts of twocontact pairings mutually spaced apart, the first terminal 207 does notbecome electrically conductive with the second terminal 209, therebysubstantially preventing erroneous detection resulting from the degreeof accuracy achieved in the processing and assembly of the components ofthe switch.

Further, in the case of the conventional seating detection switch 300,due to the condition of the switch 301 when installed, discrepancies mayarise in the distance existing between contacts of each contact pairingin the same manner as this occurs due to the degree of processing orassembling accuracy achieved. For example, if one of the contactpairings is positioned in a part the radius of curvature on the seatface of which is smaller than that of another contact pairing, theseating detection switch may bend slightly at that part having the smallradius of curvature, such that the distance between the contacts of thatone contact pairing becomes smaller than the distance between contactsof the other contact pairing.

Moreover, in a contact pairing for which the distance between contactsis small, there may be contact between contacts caused due to vibrationsoccurring as the car runs, causing erroneous detection of the seating ofa person even when a person is not seated.

Again, in the case of the seating detection switch 201 according to thisembodiment, if there is not mutual contact between the contacts of twocontact pairings mutually spaced apart, the terminal 207 does not becomeelectrically conductive with the terminal 209, thereby substantiallypreventing erroneous detection due to the condition of installation asabove.

ELEVENTH EMBODIMENT

FIG. 37 is a schematic view of the seating detection switch 201 aaccording to an eleventh embodiment of the present invention.

The seating detection switch 201 a differs from that of the tenthembodiment in the configuration of the conduction route by which thecontacts 219A, 219B, 221A and 221B disposed on the film-form member 206become conductive. In all other respects, the seating detection switch201 a is the same as that according to the tenth embodiment andfurnishes the same effects.

FIG. 38 is a schematic view of the film-form member 206 of the seatingdetection switch 201 a.

Instead of the third conduction route 223 of the tenth embodiment, thefilm-form member 206 has: a fourth conduction route 225 disposedthereon, having an upside down U shape in relation to the shape of thefilm-form member 206; and a fifth conduction route 227 disposed thereonspaced apart from the fourth conduction route 225, having a U shape inrelation to the shape of the film-form member 206. The external shape ofthe film-form member 206 is the same as that of the film-form member 205according to the tenth embodiment.

The contact 219A comprising the third contact arrangement 219 becomeselectrically conductive with the contact 221A comprising the fourthcontact arrangement 221 via the fourth conduction route 225. The othercontact 219B comprising the third contact arrangement 219 becomeselectrically conductive with the other contact 221B of the fourthcontact arrangement 221 via the fifth conduction route 227.

That is to say, the contacts of the third contact arrangement 219 becomeelectrically connected via the conduction routes with the correspondingcontacts of their respective pairs, comprising the fourth contactarrangement 221.

FIG. 39 is a circuit diagram of the seating detection switch 201 a. Asshown, the seating detection switch 201 a comprises a combination of aplurality of AND circuits and a plurality of OR circuits.

When a person sits down in a seat on which the seating detection switch201 a is installed, the seating detection switch 201 a bends. Then, thefirst terminal 207 becomes electrically conductive with the secondterminal 209 enabling the seating of the person to be detected when onecontact 211A of the first contact arrangement 211 comes into contactwith one contact 219A of the third contact arrangement 219 and onecontact 215A of the second contact arrangement 215 comes into contactwith one contact 221A of the fourth contact arrangement 221, or, theother contact 211B of the first contact arrangement 211 comes intocontact with the other contact 219B of the third contact arrangement 219and the other contact 215B of the second contact arrangement 215 comesinto contact with the other contact 221B of the fourth contactarrangement 221.

TWELFTH EMBODIMENT

FIG. 40 is a schematic view of the seating detection switch 201 baccording to a twelfth embodiment of the present invention.

The seating detection switch 201 b differs from that of the tenthembodiment in that the appropriate number of contacts of the thirdcontact arrangement 219 and the appropriate number of contacts of thefourth contact arrangement 221 disposed on the film-form member 233become mutually, electrically conductive via another contactarrangement. In all other respects, the seating detection switch 201 bis the same as the switch according to the tenth embodiment andfurnishes the same effects.

The cross-section of the contacts of the seating detection switch 201 b(the cross-section in the thickness direction of the seating detectionswitch 201 b; shown in FIG. 40 by the line II-II), is the same as thatin the conventional seating detection switch 300 and the seatingdetection switch 201 according to the tenth embodiment (see FIG. 2).

FIG. 41 is a schematic view of the film-form member 229 of the seatingdetection switch 201 b.

The difference between this film-form member 229 and the film-formnumber 223 of the tenth embodiment is that a belt shaped firstprotruding part 229A is disposed on the first distal region 203C side ofthe center part in the longitudinal direction of the intermediate region203B, and a belt shaped second protruding part 229B like the firstprotruding part 229A, is disposed on the second distal region 203D sideof the center part in the longitudinal direction of the intermediateregion 203B.

At the end part of the first protruding part 229A, on the surface of thefilm-form substrate 229 facing the film-form member 233, a fifth contactarrangement 235 is disposed, comprising a suitable number of fifthcontacts 235A. The contacts 235A are disposed substantially spaced apartfrom the first contact arrangement 211 and the second contactarrangement 215.

Further, at the end part of the second protruding part 229B, on thesurface of the film-form substrate 229 facing the film-form member 233,a sixth contact arrangement 237 is disposed, comprising a suitablenumber of sixth contacts 237A. The contacts 237A are disposedsubstantially spaced apart from the first contact arrangement 211, thesecond contact arrangement 215 and the fifth contact arrangement 235.

The contacts 235A of the fifth contact arrangement 235 and the contacts237A of the sixth contact arrangement 237 become mutually, electricallyconductive via a third conduction route 239 formed in a U shape inrelation to the first protruding part 229A, the second protruding part229B and intermediate region 203B.

FIG. 42 is a schematic view of the spacer 231.

The external shape of the spacer 231 is substantially the same as thatof the film-form substrate 229, in the same manner as the tenthembodiment. Accordingly, a first protruding part 231A corresponding tothe first protruding part 229A and a second protruding part 231Bcorresponding to the second protruding part 229B are disposed on thespacer 231. Through holes 231C and 231D are formed in the firstprotruding part 231A and the second protruding part 231B respectively,positioned corresponding to contacts 235A and 237A comprising the fifthand sixth contact arrangements disposed on the film-form substrate 229.

FIG. 43 is a schematic view of the film-form member 233.

The external shape of the film-form member 233 is substantially the sameas that of the film-form substrate 229, in the same manner as the tenthembodiment. Accordingly, the first protruding part 233A corresponding tothe first protruding part 229A and the second protruding apart 233Bcorresponding to the second protruding part 229B are disposed on thefilm-form member 233.

In the same manner as the tenth embodiment, a third contact arrangement219 comprising the third contacts 219A and 219B, and a fourth contactarrangement comprising the fourth contacts 221A and 221B are disposed onthe film-form member 233.

An appropriate number of contacts 241A comprising a seventh contactarrangement 241 are disposed at the end part of the first protrudingpart 233A, opposing the contacts 235A comprising the fifth contactarrangement 235, so as to be capable of coming into contact with thefifth contact arrangement 235.

In the same manner, an appropriate number of contacts 243A comprising aneighth contact arrangement 243 are disposed at the end part of thesecond protruding part 233B, opposing the contacts 237A comprising thesixth contact arrangement 237, so as to be capable of coming intocontact with the sixth contact arrangement.

The contacts 219A and 219B comprising the third contact arrangement 219become electrically conductive via a fourth conduction route 245 withthe contact 241A comprising the seventh contact arrangement 241.

In the same manner, the contacts 221A and 221B comprising the fourthcontact arrangement 221 become electrically conductive via a fifthconduction route 247 with the contact 243A comprising the eighth contactarrangement 243.

In other words, all of the contacts 235A and 237A comprising the fifthcontact arrangement 235 and the sixth contact arrangement 237 disposedon the film-form substrate 229 become mutually electrically conductivevia the third conduction route 239; all of the contacts 219A, 219B and241A comprising the third contact arrangement 219 and the seventhcontact arrangement 241 disposed on the film-form member 233, becomemutually electrically conductive via the fourth conduction route 245;and all of the contacts 221A, 221B and 243A comprising the fourthcontact arrangement 221 and the eighth contact arrangement 243 becomemutually conductive via the fifth conduction route 247.

As described above, the appropriate number of contacts of the thirdcontact arrangement 219 become electrically conductive via anothercontact arrangement with the appropriate number of contacts of thefourth contact arrangement 221.

That is to say, one contact 219A of the third contact arrangement 219and one contact 221A of the fourth contact arrangement 221 becomemutually electrically conductive via the fourth conduction route 245,the contact 241A of the seventh contact arrangement 241 and the contact235A of the fifth contact arrangement 235 opposing this contact 241A, aswell as the third conduction route 239, the contact 237A of the sixthcontact arrangement 237, the contact 243A of the eighth contactarrangement 243 opposing this contact 237A, as well as the fifthconduction route 247.

FIG. 44 is a circuit diagram of the seating detection switch 201 bconstructed as above described.

When the seating detection switch 201 b is installed on a seat and aperson sits down in that seat, the seating detection switch 201 b bends.Then, the first terminal 207 becomes electrically conductive with thesecond terminal 209 enabling the seating of the person to be detectedwhen one contact 211A of the first contact arrangement 211 comes intocontact with one contact 219A of the third contact arrangement 219, orthe other contact 211B of the first contact arrangement 211 comes intocontact with the other contact 219B of the third contact arrangement219, moreover, one contact 215A of the second contact arrangement 215comes into contact with one contact 221A of the fourth contactarrangement 221 or, the other contact 215B of the second contactarrangement 215 comes into contact with the other contact 221B of thefourth contact arrangement 221, moreover the contact 235A of the fifthcontact arrangement 235 comes into contact with the contact 241A of theseventh contact arrangement 241, and the contact 237A of the sixthcontact arrangement 237 comes into contact with the contact 243A of theeighth contact arrangement 243.

In other words, if there is not contact between contact pairs at fourlocations substantially spaced apart from each other, the first terminal207 does not become electrically conductive with the second terminal209.

Accordingly, in the same manner as the tenth embodiment, this seatingdetection switch 201 b according to the twelfth embodiment veryeffectively enables prevention of erroneous detections of the seating ofa person in a seat on which the switch 201 b is installed and preventsthe occurrence of such erroneous detections to a higher degree.

THIRTEENTH EMBODIMENT

FIG. 45 is a schematic view of the seating detection switch 201 caccording to a thirteenth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 46is a cross-sectional view along the line XLVI-XLVI of FIG. 45.

The seating detection switch 201 c differs from that of the tenthembodiment in the configuration of the contacts formed on the film-formsubstrate 249, the conduction routes that make those contactselectrically conductive, connecting them to the first terminal 207 andthe second terminal 209, and the contacts formed on the film-form member251. In all other respects, the seating detection switch 201 c issubstantially the same as that of the tenth embodiment, and furnishessubstantially the same effects.

In the same manner as the switch according to the tenth embodiment, theseating detection switch 201 c has a film-form spacer 304 (see FIG. 4)interposed between a film-form substrate 249 arranged on one of thesurfaces of the spacer 304 and a film-form member 251 arranged on theother surface of the spacer 304.

FIG. 47 is a schematic view of the film-form substrate 249 of theseating detection switch 201 c.

This film-form substrate 249 has disposed thereon contacts and aconduction route that differ in shape to those disposed on the film-formsubstrate 203 according to the tenth embodiment, but in all otherrespects is substantially the same as that film-form substrate 203.

That is to say, in the same manner as the film-form substrate 203, thefilm-form substrate 249 comprises a first terminal 207 and a secondterminal 209. Further, a first contact arrangement 253 including theappropriate number of contacts 253A and 253B that become electricallyconductive with the first terminal 207 via a first conduction route 255,is disposed on the surface of the film-form substrate 203 facing thefilm-form member 251.

One contact 253A of the first contact arrangement 253 is disposed at oneend in the longitudinal direction of the first distal region 203C, whilethe other contact 253B of that first contact arrangement 253 is disposedat the other end in the longitudinal direction of that first distalregion 203C.

Further, a second contact arrangement 257 comprising the appropriatenumber of contacts 257A and 257B that are electrically conductive withthe second terminal 209 via a second conduction route 259, is disposedon the surface of the film-form substrate 259 that faces the film-formmember 251.

In the same manner as the contact 253A and 253B of the first contactarrangement 253, the contacts 257A and 257B of the second contactarrangement 257 also are disposed respectively at one end and the otherend in the longitudinal direction of the second distal region 203D. Asthe second distal region 203D is substantially spaced apart from thefirst distal region 203C, the second contacts 257A and 257B aresubstantially separated from the first contact arrangement 253.

Further, a third contact arrangement 261 comprising the appropriatenumber of contacts 261A and 261B is disposed in conformance with thecircuit configuration of the film-form member 205, on the surface of thefilm-form substrate 249 that faces the film-form member 251. Thecontacts 261A and 261B are positioned correlated to the contacts 253Aand 253B of the first contact arrangement 253 but slightly distancedfrom those contacts.

More specifically, one contact 261A comprising the third contactarrangement 261 is disposed slightly removed from one contact 253Acomprising the first contact arrangement 253 toward the intermediateregion 203B side (the inner side). The other contact 261B is disposedslightly removed from the other contact 253B comprising the firstcontact arrangement 253 toward the intermediate region 203B side.

A fourth contact arrangement 263 comprising the appropriate number ofcontacts 263A and 263B is disposed on the surface of the film-formsubstrate 249 that faces the film-form member 251, corresponding to thecontacts 257A and 257B of the second contact arrangement 257 andslightly removed from the contacts 257A and 257B. In the same manner asthe contacts 261A and 261B of the third contact arrangement 261, thecontacts 263A and 263B of the fourth contact arrangement 263 also aredisposed to the inner side of the contacts 257A and 257B of the secondcontact arrangement 257.

The appropriate contacts of the third contact arrangement 261 becomeelectrically conductive with the appropriate contacts of the fourthcontact arrangement 263. More specifically, all of the contacts, 261A,261B, 263A and 263D of the third contact arrangement 261 and the fourthcontact arrangement 263 become mutually electrically conductive via athird conduction route 265 disposed on the surface of the film-formsubstrate 249 that faces the film-form member 251.

Formed according to the above described configuration, in relation tothe centerline CL1 that passes through the center part in the widthwisedirection of the proximal region 203A of the film-form substrate 249 andextends in the longitudinal direction of that proximal region, theconduction routes 255, 259 and 265 form a linearly symmetrical form,while the contacts comprising the contact arrangements 253, 257, 261 and263 are arranged positioned linearly symmetrically in relation to thatcenterline CL1.

The contact pairing 262A comprising one contact 253A of the firstcontact arrangement 253 and one contact 261A of the third contactarrangement 261 is installed in the position corresponding to onecontact 211A of the first contact arrangement 211 of the seatingdetection switch 201 according to the tenth embodiment (see FIG. 34). Inthe same manner, the other contact pairings (e.g. contact pairing 262B)comprising the other contacts (e.g. contacts 253B or 261B) also areinstalled in the position corresponding to the other contacts (e.g.contact 211B) of the seating detection switch 201 according to the tenthembodiment.

FIG. 48 is a schematic view of the film-form member 251 of the seatingdetection switch 201 c.

Contacts 267A, 267B, 269A and 269B for enabling electrical conductivitybetween the pair forming contacts 253A and 261A, 253B and 261B, 253C and261C, and 253D and 261D are disposed on the film-form member 251.

That is to say, a fifth contact arrangement 267 comprising theappropriate number of contacts 267A and 267B is disposed on the surfaceof the film-form member 251 facing the film-form substrate 249.

The contacts 267A and 267B of the fifth contact arrangement 267 aredisposed opposing respectively, the appropriate first contact pairings262A and 262B comprising the contacts 253A and 253B of the first contactarrangement 253 and the contacts 261A and 261B of the third contactarrangement 261, so as to be able to come into contact with thosecontact pairings.

For example, one contact 267A of the fifth contact arrangement 267 isdisposed opposing the first contact pairing 262A comprising one contact253A of the first contact arrangement 253 and one contact 261A of thethird contact arrangement 261.

In the same manner, on the surface of the film-form member 251 facingthe film-form substrate 249, a sixth contact arrangement 269 comprisingthe contacts 269A and 269B disposed opposing respectively the secondcontact pairing 264A and 264B comprising the contacts 257A and 257B ofthe second contact arrangement 257 and the contacts 263A and 263B of thefourth contact arrangement 263, so as to be able to come into contactwith those contact pairings.

FIG. 49 is a circuit diagram of the seating detection switch 201 cconfigured as described. This circuit diagram is similar to the circuitdiagram of the tenth embodiment (see FIG. 36).

In this way, as a configuration is provided in which contacts comprisingpairings are disposed together in proximity on the film-form substrate249, it is not necessary to provide a conduction route for mutually,electrically connecting the contacts of the film-form member 251,thereby enabling the film-form member 251 to be of a simple structure.Further, the contacts forming pairs on the film-form substrate 249 canbe electrically connected without using the film-form member 251,enabling tests to be performed easily to determine the existence of awire breakage affecting the conduction routes 255 or 259 on thefilm-form substrate 249.

When this seating detection switch 201 c is installed on a seat and aperson sits down in that seat the seating detection switch 201 c bends.Then, the first terminal 207 becomes electrically conductive with thesecond terminal 209 enabling the seating of the person to be detectedwhen one contact 253A of the first contact arrangement 253 and onecontact 261A of the third contact arrangement 261 come into contact withone contact 267A of the fifth contact arrangement 267, or, the othercontact 253B of the first contact arrangement 253 and the other contact261B of the third contact arrangement 261 come into contact with theother contact 267B of the fifth contact arrangement 267, moreover, onecontact 257A of the second contact arrangement 257 and one contact 263Aof the fourth contact arrangement 263 come into contact with one contact269A of the sixth contact arrangement 269, or, the other contact 257B ofthe second contact arrangement 257 and the other contact 263B of thefourth contact arrangement 263 come into contact with the other contact269B of the sixth contact arrangement 269.

FOURTEENTH EMBODIMENT

FIG. 50 is a schematic view of the seating detection switch 201 daccording to the fourteenth embodiment of the present invention.

This seating detection switch 201 d differs from the seating detectionswitch according to the thirteenth embodiment in the configuration ofthe conduction routes on a film-form substrate 271 enabling conductionbetween the contacts 261A and 261B of the third contact arrangement 261and the contacts 263A and 263B of the fourth contact arrangement 263. Inall other respects, this switch 201 d is configured substantially thesame as the switch according to the thirteenth embodiment and furnishessubstantially the same effects.

FIG. 51 is a schematic view of the film-form substrate 271 of theseating detection switch 201 d. This film-form substrate 271 has thesame external form as the film-form substrate 249 of the seatingdetection switch 201 c according to the thirteenth embodiment.

Instead of the third conduction route 265 of the thirteenth embodiment,the film-form substrate 271 has a fourth conduction route 273 disposedthereon and formed in an upside down U shape in relation to the shape ofthe film-form substrate 271, and a fifth conduction route 275 disposedspaced apart from the fourth conduction route 273 and formed in a Ushape in relation to the shape of the film-form substrate 271.

One contact 261A comprising the third contact arrangement 261 becomeselectrically conductive with one contact 263A comprising the fourthcontact arrangement 263, via the fourth conduction route 273. The othercontact 261B comprising the third contact arrangement 261 becomeselectrically conductive with the other contact 263B comprising thefourth contact arrangement 263 via the fifth conduction route 275.

FIG. 52 is a circuit diagram of the seating detection switch 201 dconfigured as described above.

When a person sits down in a seat on which this seating detection switch201 d is installed the seating detection switch 201 d (the film-formsubstrate 271 and film-form member 251) bends. Then, the first terminal207 becomes electrically conductive with the second terminal 209enabling the seating of the person to be detected when one contact 253Aof the first contact arrangement 253 and one contact 261A of the thirdcontact arrangement 261 come into contact with one contact 267A of thefifth contact arrangement 267, moreover, one contact 257A of the secondcontact arrangement 257 and one contact 263A of the fourth contactarrangement 263 come into contact with one contact 269A of the sixthcontact arrangement 269, or, the other contact 253B of the first contactarrangement 253 and the other contact 261B of the third contactarrangement 261 come into contact with the other contact 267B of thefifth contact arrangement 267, moreover, the other contact 257B of thesecond contact arrangement 257 and the other contact 263B of the fourthcontact arrangement 263 come into contact with the other contact 269B ofthe sixth contact arrangement 269.

In the case of the seating detection switch 201 c according to thethirteenth embodiment and the seating detection switch 201 d accordingto the fourteenth embodiment, the contacts of the third contactarrangement and the contacts of the fourth contact arrangement aredirectly electrically connected via conduction routes, however, theseseating detection switches can also be configured such that the contactsbecome mutually electrically conductive via another contact arrangementas in the case of the seating detection switch 201 b according to thetwelfth embodiment.

FIFTEENTH EMBODIMENT

FIG. 53 is a schematic view of the seating detection switch 201 eaccording to a fifteenth embodiment of the present invention.

The seating detection switch 201 e differs from that of the tenthembodiment in that the appropriate contacts of the third contactarrangement 219 and the appropriate contacts of the fourth contactarrangement 221 installed on a film-form substrate 281, become mutually,electrically conductive via another contact arrangement. In all otherrespects, this switch 201 e is configured substantially the same as theswitch according to the tenth embodiment and furnishes substantially thesame effects.

One cross-section of the contacts of the seating detection switch 201 e(cross-section XLVI-XLVI; refer FIG. 46) is configured the same as inthe case of the thirteenth embodiment, while another cross-section(cross-section II-II; refer FIG. 2) is configured the same as in thecase of the tenth embodiment.

FIG. 54 is a schematic view of a film-form substrate 277 of the seatingdetection switch 201 e.

A point of difference between the film-form substrate 277 and thefilm-form substrate 203 according to the tenth embodiment is that thefilm-form substrate 277 includes a belt shaped protruding part 277A inthe center part in the longitudinal direction of the intermediate region203B, while on the end part of the belt shaped protruding part 277A aseventh contact arrangement 279 comprising an appropriate number ofcontacts 279A is disposed. The contacts 279A is disposed substantiallyapart from the first contact arrangement 211 and the second contactarrangement 215.

FIG. 55 is a schematic view of a spacer 280.

In the same manner as the tenth embodiment, the external form of thespacer 280 is substantially the same as the external form of thefilm-form substrate 277. Accordingly, a protruding part 280Acorresponding to the protruding part 277A is formed on the spacer 280and a through whole 280D corresponding to the contact 279A of theseventh contact arrangement 279 disposed on the film-form substrate 277,is formed in the protruding part 280A.

FIG. 56 is a schematic view of the film-form member 281.

In the same manner as the tenth embodiment, the external form of thefilm-form member 281 is substantially the same as that of the film-formsubstrate 277. Accordingly, a protruding part 281A corresponding to theprotruding part 277A is formed on the film-form member 281.

In the same manner as applies with respect to the tenth embodiment, thethird contact arrangement 219 comprising the contacts 219A and 219B andthe fourth contact arrangement 221 comprising the contacts 221A and 221Bare disposed on the film-form member 281.

Toward the end part of the protruding part 281A, on the surface of thefilm-form member 281 facing the film-form substrate 277, are disposed afifth contact arrangement 283 comprising the appropriate number ofcontacts 283A disposed substantially apart from the third contactarrangement 219 and the fourth contact arrangement 221, as well as asixth contact arrangement 285 comprising the appropriate number ofcontacts 285A disposed corresponding to the fifth contact 283A andslightly apart from those fifth contacts 283A.

The contact 279A comprising the seventh contact arrangement 279 disposedon the film-form substrate 277 is arranged opposing the contact pair286A comprising the contact 283A of the fifth contact arrangement 283and the contact 235A of the sixth contact arrangement 285, so as to beable to come into contact with that contact pair.

The contacts 219A and 219B of the third contact arrangement 219 becomeelectrically conductive with the contact 283A of the fifth contactarrangement 283 via a third conductive route 287.

In the same manner, the contacts 221A and 221B of the fourth contactarrangement 221 become electrically conductive with the contact 285A ofthe sixth contact arrangement 285 via a fourth conduction route 289.

According to the above described configuration, the appropriate contactsof the third contact arrangement 219 become electrically conductive viaanother contact arrangement (the fifth to seventh contact arrangements279, 283, 285) with the appropriate contacts of the fourth contactarrangement 221.

FIG. 57 is a circuit diagram of the above described seating detectionswitch 201 e.

When the seating detection switch 201 e is installed in a seat and aperson sits down in that seat the seating detection switch 201 e bends.Then, the first terminal 207 becomes electrically conductive with thesecond terminal 209 enabling the seating of the person to be detectedwhen one contact 211A of the first contact arrangement 211 and onecontact 219A of the third contact arrangement 219 come into contact, orthe other contact 211B of the first contact arrangement 211 and theother contact 219B of the third contact arrangement 219 come intocontact; the contact 283A of the fifth contact arrangement 283 and thecontact 285A of the sixth contact arrangement 285 come into contact withthe contact 279A of the seventh contact arrangement 279; and one contact215A of the second contact arrangement 215 and one contact 221A of thefourth contact arrangement 221 come into contact, or the other contact215B of the second contact arrangement 215 comes into contact with theother contact 221B of the fourth contact arrangement 221.

That is to say, in the case of the seating detection switch 201 e, ifthere is not contact between contact pairs at three locationssubstantially mutually separated from each other the first terminal 207does not become electrically conductive with the second terminal 209.

Accordingly, in the same manner as the seating detection switchaccording to the tenth embodiment, this seating detection switch 201 every effectively enables prevention of erroneous detections of theseating of a person in a seat on which the switch is installed andprevents the occurrence of such erroneous detections to a higher degree.

In respect of the seating detection switches according to the tenth tofifteenth embodiments, those parts of the switch which curvesubstantially when a passenger sits down in a seat on which the switchis installed may be strengthened in the same manner as the seatingdetection switch according to the second embodiment.

For example, those parts of the switch devices according to the tenth tofifteenth embodiments that curve substantially may have the spacer andfilm-form member removed and a thin, insulating resistance layer may bedisposed on one of the surfaces of the film-form substrate so as tocover a conduction route disposed thereon, thereby strengthening thoseparts that curve substantially.

The resistance layer can be formed so as to enter slightly between thespacer and the film-form substrate.

Further, a thin, flexible film-form protective tape may be disposedcovering the surface of the resistance layer.

Moreover, those parts of the switch devices according to the tenth tofifteenth embodiments that curve substantially may have the spacer andfilm-form substrate removed, and a thin, insulating resistance layer maybe disposed over one of the surfaces of the film-form member so as tocover a conduction route disposed thereon, thereby strengthening thoseparts that curve substantially.

The resistance layer can be formed so as to enter slightly between thespacer and the film-form member.

Further a thin, flexible film-form protective tape may be disposedcovering the surface of the resistance layer.

Further, those parts of the switch devices related to the tenth tofifteenth embodiments that curve substantially may be provided with adouble-sided tape that is thinner than the spacer 304, instead of thespacer 304.

This double-sided tape is formed of a substrate comprising for example,nonwoven fabric having flexibility, impregnated with an adhesive agent,or alternatively, is tape formed simply of an adhesive agent.

The seating detection switches according to the first to fifthembodiments have the effect of enabling easy connection of the terminalsof the seating detection switch to the connection terminals such aselectric wires or the like provided by a wiring harness or the like.

The seating detection switches according to the sixth to ninthembodiments have the effect that even if the switch curves substantiallydue to the seating of a passenger in a seat to which the seatingdetection switch is installed, those parts of the switch that curvesubstantially do not sustain damage easily.

The seating detection switches according to the tenth to fifteenthembodiments very effectively prevent erroneous detections fromoccurring.

Each of the embodiments of this invention were described using anexample in which the switch is installed on a car seat, however any ofthe seating detection switches of the embodiments of this invention canbe used on a seat of a vehicle other than a car or on a seat other thana vehicle seat, for example an office chair.

This entire contents of Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-141513,filed on May 20, 2003, are incorporated by reference herein.

While the preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown anddescribed herein, it is to be understood that the same is not so limitedbut shall cover and include any and all modifications thereof which fallwithin the scope of the invention.

1. A film-form seating detection switch constructed having a film-formspacer interposed, a film-form substrate arranged on one surface of thespacer, and a film-form member arranged on the other surface of thespacer, comprising: a first terminal provided in the seating detectionswitch; a second terminal provided in the seating detection switchspaced apart from the first terminal; a first contact arrangementincluding an appropriate number of contacts that are electricallyconductive with the first terminal disposed on the surface of thefilm-form substrate facing the film-form member; a second contactarrangement including an appropriate number of contacts that areelectrically conductive with the second terminal disposed on thefilm-form substrate surface facing the film-form member substantiallyapart from the first contact arrangement; a third contact arrangementincluding an appropriate number of contacts arranged opposing therespective contacts of the first contact arrangement, disposed on thefilm-form member surface facing the film-form substrate, so as to becapable of coming into contact with the respective contacts; and afourth contact arrangement including an appropriate number of contactsarranged opposing the respective contacts of the second contactarrangement, disposed on the film-form member surface facing thefilm-form substrate, so as to be capable of coming into contact with therespective contacts, wherein the appropriate contacts of the thirdcontact arrangement and the appropriate contacts of the fourth contactarrangement become directly, mutually conductive or become mutuallyconductive via another contact arrangement provided on the film-formsubstrate and/or the film-form member.
 2. The seating detection switchaccording to claim 1, wherein all of the contacts of the third contactarrangement and the fourth contact arrangement are mutually,electrically conductive.
 3. The seating detection switch according toclaim 1, wherein some of the contacts of the third contact arrangementand some of the contacts of the fourth contact arrangement are mutually,electrically conductive, while the remainder of the contacts of thethird contact arrangement and the remainder of the contacts of thefourth contact arrangement are mutually, electrically conductive.
 4. Theseating detection switch according to claim 1, comprising: a fifthcontact arrangement including an appropriate number of contacts disposedon the film-form substrate surface facing the film-form member,substantially apart from the first contact arrangement and the secondcontact arrangement; a sixth contact arrangement including anappropriate number of contacts disposed on the film-form substratesurface facing the film-form member, substantially apart from the firstcontact arrangement, the second contact arrangement and the fifthcontact arrangement; a seventh contact arrangement including anappropriate number of contacts disposed on the film-form member surfacefacing the film-form substrate, opposing the respective contacts of thefifth contact arrangement, so as to be capable of coming into contactwith the respective contacts; and an eighth contact arrangementincluding an appropriate number of contacts disposed on the film-formmember surface facing the film-form substrate, opposing the respectivecontacts of the sixth contact arrangement, so as to be capable of cominginto contact with the respective contacts, wherein all of the contactsof the fifth contact arrangement and the sixth contact arrangement aremutually, electrically conductive, all of the contacts of the thirdcontact arrangement and the seventh contact arrangement are mutually,electrically conductive, and all of the contacts of the fourth contactarrangement and the eighth contact arrangement are mutually,electrically conductive.
 5. The seating detection switch according toclaim 1, comprising: a fifth contact arrangement including anappropriate number of contacts disposed on the film-form member surfacefacing the film-form substrate substantially apart from the thirdcontact arrangement and the fourth contact arrangement; a sixth contactarrangement including an appropriate number of contacts disposed on thefilm-form member surface facing the film-form substrate corresponding tobut just apart from the respective contacts of the fifth contactarrangement; and a seventh contact arrangement having an appropriatenumber of contacts disposed on the film-form substrate surface facingthe film-form member opposing respectively, each of an appropriatenumber of contact pairs comprised of each of the contacts of the fifthcontact arrangement and each of the contacts of the sixth contactarrangement, so as to be capable of coming into contact with each ofthose contact pairs, wherein all of the contacts of the third contactarrangement and the fifth contact arrangement are mutually, electricallyconductive and all of the contacts of the fourth contact arrangement andthe sixth contact arrangement are mutually, electrically conductive.